Ukrainian intelligence officer who carried out raids in Russian rear killed in action
Anton "Umnik" ("Nerd") Poliukhovych, 25, has been killed in action. He served in the Bratstvo (Fellowship), a Christian battalion within Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU).
Source: Bratstvo on Facebook
Details: Poliukhovych took part in raids on the far side of the Kakhovka Reservoir and was awarded the Order for Courage.
He was from Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, his fellow villagers told Raion.in.ua, a local media outlet. Poliukhovych was a student before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. He later decided to join Bratstvo's patronage service and then became a field chaplain.
Poliukhovych used to say: "I wanted to be grateful to Jesus Christ for what he had done, for the state of soul he had given me. Out of that gratitude, I wanted to do something concrete and be useful in some way. It is impossible to describe the feeling of being in your rightful place and doing God's work. It is happiness, joy and energy."
Later, he took up arms. During his first combat missions with Bratstvo, Anton participated in an operation in Russian-held territory, capturing his first prisoner as part of a joint effort with his brothers-in-arms.
Umnik was later promoted to a commanding role and looked after the needs of his fighters.
Bratstvo said he had led his subordinates wisely. On one occasion, he conducted an operation that successfully rotated groups eight kilometres deep into a Russian kill zone, an area where troops face a high risk of being targeted by enemy fire.
Umnik's brothers-in-arms said: "He forever wrote his name into history during a sabotage raid on the opposite bank of the Kakhovka Reservoir, where he and his group killed an enemy reconnaissance detachment and captured two valuable enemy fighters. This unique operation was made possible by his talent for navigation, endurance and cool-headedness. A kind-hearted lad, a churchgoer, a fan of Ukrainian rock music and board games in the rear, he was a thoughtful, fearless and taciturn fighter in war."
The funeral service for Poliukhovych will take place at St Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery in Kyiv at 11:30 on 7 April. A farewell ceremony will be held on Independence Square immediately afterwards.
Background: Artur Petrov, a Ukrainian stand-up comedian and serviceman from the 43rd Separate Mechanised Brigade, was killed while evacuating wounded soldiers.
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