Memorial service for murdered SVFU student overcrowded in Yakutsk

A memorial service for the murdered 18-year-old first-year SVFU (North-Eastern Federal University) student Pyotr was held in Yakutsk on November 12, 2025. So many people came that many mourners had to wait in the corridor. Most of them were students who gathered to say goodbye to an acquaintance, friend, and classmate.

The tragedy occurred on November 1, 2025, when a first-year student with severe injuries was admitted to one of Yakutsk«s hospitals; he soon fell into a coma, and on November 10 the young man died. According to a source, Pyotr had allegedly been drinking with other first-year students the night before the tragedy. At some point, an argument started, after which the young men fought. Pyotr sustained severe injuries, and the attacker called an ambulance for him, which arrived after an hour and a half.

While Pyotr was in a coma, many students responded to the call for help and donated blood for his treatment. However, in the end, it did not help the student.

The suspect was detained on November 12, 2025. The Yakutia Investigative Committee confirmed that Pyotr was injured during a drunken fight.

There Were Many People

At the entrance to the corridor of the Atrium Funeral Services Center, several people were already standing. To the right, a group of young men in dark clothes somberly greeted everyone who entered. Most of those who came had carnations in their hands, which they didn«t know where to place. Someone was nervously checking their phone, someone»s left jacket had a ringtone playing for quite a while, and someone was looking towards the door with a stony face. The atmosphere was heavy.

Most were students. It was evident that some of them came right after classes, with backpacks slung over their shoulders. There were older people, teachers, family friends, and relatives. The entrance to the funeral hall was completely blocked by visitors, everyone wanted to see the young man and say goodbye to him.

In the crowd, young people were whispering, discussing which acquaintances had come, whom they had seen. They also remembered Pyotr. Many could not believe that he had really died. Students were crying: girls wiped their tears with handkerchiefs, boys bowed their heads and occasionally wiped their faces with their palms. Many of them knew Pyotr personally, had communicated with him, had become friends, and were probably already thinking about how they would spend their student years together.

“He Was Very Active”

In the mourning hall, people moved “in a single file” to get through the crowd and say goodbye. The coffin with Pyotr was in the center of the hall, surrounded by wreaths. Close relatives and family sat on chairs nearby. All the benches were occupied, and on the opposite side of the hall, near the exit and the food table, a large crowd of people had gathered.

Many were wearing jackets. It was stuffy. Acquaintances and close ones took turns coming up to Pyotr and each spoke about their own. Relatives noted his academic achievements and talked about his childhood. Friends spoke about the student«s kind character.

When a speaker suddenly sobbed, it echoed through all the mourners. At some point, a young girl standing at the front of the crowd started calling people from the corridor inside. After half a minute, hesitating, they came out to the coffin. It turned out she was the group leader in which Pyotr studied. She expressed condolences to the mother and brother on behalf of everyone. She spoke a little about the deceased, and at that time, tears welled up on everyone«s faces.

Afterwards, three close friends of Pyotr came out to speak, each holding a carnation that they placed at the young man«s feet by the end of their speech. One of them, starting to talk about the young man»s character, burst into tears. Friends tried to support him. At that moment, someone came out of the crowd and hugged the young man.

It was the mother«s turn. She stood up and, staggering, approached her son»s coffin. Her elder son, Pyotr«s brother, helped her by holding her hand from behind. The woman told how much she loved her boy and how much she had lost with his death. The woman could not hold back tears. At the end of her speech, the elder son kissed his brother and sat down next to his mother, trembling.

Everyone, as best they could, supported the relatives. They hugged, asked about their condition. Even the rector of SVFU, Anatoly Nikolaev, came to say goodbye to him. He expressed condolences, after which he hugged the relatives.

After a very difficult hour for each of those who came, the guests began to disperse. The closest ones remained to continue organizing the funeral.