KYIV -- Hundreds of people gathered at two sites in central Kyiv on June 18 to mourn the death of Roman Ratushniy, an activist who became a well-known figure in Ukraine's 2014 pro-West revolution.
Ceremonies were held at St. Michael's monastery and at Kyiv's Independence Square (Maidan Nezalezhnosti), where Mayor Vitali Klitschko spoke.
Tearful mourners placed flowers and held banners of Ratushniy at both events, with some shouting, ““Heroes never die!”
The 24-year-old Ukrainian was killed on June 9 in the battle against Russian troops for the city of Izyum in the east of the country, about 115 kilometers northwest of Syevyerodonetsk.
Ratushniy joined the Ukrainian armed forces on the first day of Russia’s February 24 full-scale invasion of his country.
The activist had participated in the 2014 Euromaidan anti-government rallies that toppled Ukraine's Russia-friendly president, Viktor Yanukovych, and helped move the country closer to the West.
Since then, he has become known for his civic and environmental activism.
