Platzdarm
Плацдарм | |
| Formation | 2013[1] |
|---|---|
| Founder | Oleksii Yukov |
Platzdarm (Ukrainian: Плацдарм) is a Ukrainian search group, created by volunteers with the objective of locating, recovering, and documenting bodies of soldiers and civilians killed during the Russo-Ukrainian War. The group operates close to the front lines and former combat zones, providing humanitarian support by ensuring the deceased are identified and returned to their families for proper burial.
History
The group was founded by Oleksii (Olexii) Yukov, an experienced Ukrainian veteran and recovery worker, dating back to the Donabas conflict and Russian occupation of Crimea in 2014.[2][3] The name "Platzdarm" comes from a military term meaning a secure staging area. This reflects the group's operation method, moving from safe zones to dangerous ones close to war zones and back.[4][5][6]
Humanitarian operations
Platzdarm's actions are driven from the belief that "All these souls deserve a dignified rest". The group locates and recovers bodies of soldiers and civilianz from the frontline, regardless of their country of origin. As part of their humanitarian mission, the group's volunteers often operate in high risk, as they face dangerous conditions, including active artillery fire, drone surveillance, and minefields. Platzdarm specializes in:
- Recovering remains: Platzdarm recovers bodies of soldiers from both Ukraine and Russia, bringing them to a safe zone for identification.[2][6]
- Documenting personal effects: The group locates any means of identification such as dog tags, wallets, and equipment to help identification.[2][4]
- Coordinating with official forensic services: Once back to the safe zone, they coordinate for DNA analysis and identification.[2][3][6]
- Assisting with body exchanges: The final stage is when Platzdarm helps coordinates exchanges between warring sides to allow families to bury their loved ones.[2][3][5]
Impact
Based on reports, since the 2022 Russian invasion, Platzdarm has recovered thousands of bodies, allowing families to bury their loved ones. Their efforts also help provide more accurate casualty figures.[6][7][8]
See also
References
- ^ https://www.radiosvoboda.org/a/poshuk-zahyblyh-vijna/32442838.html
- ^ a b c d e Borrazas, Ximena (2026-01-21). "'All these souls deserve a dignified rest': Ukraine's 'body seekers' bring home the fallen". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2026-01-21.
- ^ a b c "Seven kilometers on foot under drones and artillery: How Ukraine searches for the fallen on the frontline". RBC-Ukraine. Retrieved 2026-01-21.
- ^ a b "Ukrainian Volunteers Recover the Remains of Russian Soldiers to Exchange for the Bodies of Fallen Ukrainian Troops". Stories Framing the Globe. Retrieved 2026-01-21.
- ^ a b "Search Group "Platzdarm" Recovers Fallen Soldiers' Remains from 2022 Conflict Zones". Ukraine news - #Mezha. 2025-07-17. Retrieved 2026-01-21.
- ^ a b c d Kramer, Korbinian Leo. "'We Are Not Body Hunters, We're Soul Seekers.'". www.kyivpost.com. Archived from the original on 2025-11-01. Retrieved 2026-01-21.
- ^ Собенко, Надія (2024-12-08). "Як працює пошукова група "Плацдарм". СУСПІЛЬНЕ | РЕПОРТАЖ". Суспільне | Новини (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2026-01-21.
- ^ "Letters from the dead and brushing shoulders with death. Sloviansk volunteer collects soldiers' bodies from the frontline". Ukrainska Pravda. Retrieved 2026-01-21.