Reburial dispute over soldier killed in Ukraine

The conflict between relatives and the widow of a participant in the special military operation (SVO) from Rudnyansky District, Volgograd Oblast reached federal television. The man«s relatives insist on reburial of his remains, claiming that his wife organized the funeral without their knowledge.

33-year-old Vasily signed a contract and went to the combat zone without informing his relatives. After a period during which he was considered missing, news of his death arrived. The relatives assumed the funeral would be held in Volgograd, where Vasily«s mother lives, but his wife chose a different location.

The deceased«s niece stated that the body was supposed to arrive in Volgograd, but it was not in the morgue. That evening, the widow posted a video with the coffin on TikTok. «Our numbers were blocked,» the relative reported. «She is the wife, she has every right, but what about the parents?» According to the niece, during the search the woman behaved inappropriately: she relaxed with men and talked about money. At the funeral, she called the police, fearing the relatives would «do away with» her at the cemetery.

On the program «Men/Women», the widow reported that her marriage to Vasily was her fifth and the happiest. They lived together for nine months, during which time they managed to divorce and remarry.

According to her, after her husband«s death, relatives turned against her, filed lawsuits and accused her of fraud and a fictitious marriage.

Vasily did not inform his wife of his decision to go to the front. According to her, there were no financial problems or family quarrels, and the reason for his action remained unknown to her.

At her husband«s grave, the woman shared her feelings: «God, it»s so hard. Honestly, I would just fall on this grave. I never thought I would lose him. There«s a rustle, the gate creaks — I think maybe my little one came. But no, it»s not him.»

In one of his messages to his wife, Vasily wrote: «I wanted to tell you that I miss my beloved wife very much. I am very grateful to her that I have her in this life. I took her with a child. And I will love him as my own and do everything so that he loves me too. Honey, I promise I will return home safe and sound. Love and kisses.»

The woman claims she fulfilled her husband«s last wish, who asked to be buried next to her in Rudnya. According to her, she informed the relatives of the date and place of the funeral, but afterwards became the target of persecution.

The niece presented a different picture. She stated that while her uncle was listed as missing, his wife led a debauched lifestyle and rode in cars with other men.

«We want to achieve justice. This person does not deserve the title of widow of a serviceman,» she said. «There was an incident when she attacked him with a knife. She came home drunk and in an inadequate state. Uncle was lying, sleeping. She stabbed him with a knife. He himself called an ambulance and the police, filed a statement. When he was in the hospital, her eldest son came and said that if uncle did not withdraw the statement, he would suffocate him with a pillow.»

«And I«m not saying I»m a saint,» the widow responded to these accusations.

Vasily«s mother said that after her son started living with this woman, he changed greatly. «She did not allow my son to call me. If he got married, he must forget all relatives,» she said. According to the mother, she saw her daughter-in-law for the first time at the funeral, where an administration representative asked who she was, and upon hearing it was the mother, he was surprised and said: »I was told he was an orphan. The wife said.« She added: «All she has is money on her mind.»

Relatives filed a lawsuit demanding reburial. As an expert noted on the program, they have a good chance of success.

One of the hosts addressed the widow: «Give them the opportunity to rebury, and they will leave you alone. It is their blood.»