Ukrainian journalist and soldier Serhiy Yefremov missing in Luhansk oblast

Ukrainian journalist, historian, critic, political activist, statesman, and academician Serhiy Yefremov, who was serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, went missing during the night of June 26-27 while carrying out a combat mission in the Luhansk oblast.

“‘Once I’m back from this mission, I will ask to be sent to Kyiv.’ We had been preparing for bad news since 2014, when Serhiy volunteered for the Aidar battalion, and again since February 2022, when he stepped up once more for the full-scale invasion,” editor-in-chief of Dilova Stolytsya Olga Santarovich wrote.

“But we were never truly ready to receive bad news. How can you be ready to lose a friend? We continue to hope for a miracle.” 

In addition, in a comment to IMI, Santarovich noted that Yefremov has been officially listed as missing since June 26.

Serhiy Yefremov was born and grew up in Horlivka, Donetsk region, which is now under occupation. He started his career in news media outlets in 2005. Between 2014 and 2015, Yefremov served in the Aidar battalion defending Ukraine, and after completing his service, he returned to civilian life and resumed work in digital journalism. He returned to the military again at the start of the full-scale invasion.

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Image: Yefremov’s Facebook page

Copy editing: Joy Tataryn