August M
A solemn medal ceremony in Lviv honoured Ukrainian soldiers killed in the war, DR News reports. Families mourned loved ones like Kyrylo Briukhanov, who died saving a younger comrade, as peace talks continue abroad and debates intensify over whether Kyiv should concede territory to end the conflict.
A quiet hall in Lviv fell into stillness as Ukraine’s national anthem played and grieving relatives clutched burgundy medal boxes. Among them sat Maria Kohl, holding her 11-year-old daughter close.
Both fought back tears while remembering her husband, Kyrylo Briukhanov, killed while serving in Donetsk. scenes of grief
According to DR News, several families gathered in the city hall to receive posthumous Medals of Honor for relatives killed at the front.
Military personnel stood in formation as the awards lay on a red cushion. Images of the fallen appeared on two large screens while a choir sang and a priest blessed those present.
DR correspondent Steen Nørskov, who attended, described the event as “absolutely incredibly moving”.
He estimated about 200 relatives were there, from elderly parents to very young children. It was, he said, one of the most emotional assignments of his career.
Such ceremonies take place across Ukraine roughly once a month, offering a moment of recognition amid the ongoing war.
Story of sacrifice
Briukhanov, a 43-year-old senior sergeant, died two years ago while trying to save a younger soldier. Kohl told DR that her husband had been shot in the leg during fighting in a trench.
Nearby, a 24-year-old comrade lay exposed to Russian snipers.
He removed his bulletproof vest to use it as a drag device to pull the younger man to safety. He was shot dead before reaching him. The younger soldier survived,
Kohl said she longs for an end to the fighting so that “the boys don’t die”, but insists Ukraine cannot surrender territory. Otherwise, she said, those killed will have “died in vain”.
Uncertain road to peace
The ceremony unfolded as negotiations continue between Ukraine, the United States and allied nations.
Over the weekend, delegations met in Geneva to reshape President Donald Trump’s initial 28-point proposal into a 19-point framework.
DR’s correspondent Matilde Kimer reports that major obstacles remain. The most sensitive issue — occupied territories — is still not addressed in the draft plan.
Ukraine is awaiting a future meeting between Trump and President Zelensky, where the question of whether Kyiv must concede territory is expected to take centre stage.
For families like Kohl’s, the stakes feel deeply personal. “Many people have fallen,” she told DR, pointing to her children.
