Kozyntsi to bid farewell to defender Serhii Maruda — DNA confirmed his death after a year of searches
The acting mayor of Irpin urged the community to take part in the farewell: it is not only a form of respect, but also the moment when state procedures are completed and an answer is provided to the family.
By Tetiana Suchkova-Ladik
March 20, 2026 · 2 min read
Farewell in Kozintsi
Acting Irpin mayor Angela Makeieva reported that the farewell for Hero Serhii Maruda will take place in the village of Kozintsi on Saturday, 21 March. The initial announcement listed the date as 20 March — please follow the confirmed official schedule from the community.
"The farewell for Hero Serhii Maruda will take place in the village of Kozintsi on Saturday, 21 March. I ask residents of the community to join the farewell and pay tribute to our Defender"
— Angela Makeieva, acting Irpin mayor
Farewell schedule
Burial route:
- 10:20 — living corridor from the soldier's monument to the house where the Hero lived (Shevchenko St.);
- 11:00 — funeral service at the Church of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God (Kozintsi village, Shevchenko St., 84);
- 11:30 — burial ceremony at the village cemetery.
Briefly on the circumstances
Serhii Maruda was killed on 7 March 2025 while carrying out a combat mission near Sudzha on the Kursk direction. For over a year he was considered missing in action; on 10 March this year DNA testing confirmed his death.
Why this matters
This is not just a farewell — it is the result of the meticulous work of investigators, forensic medical experts, and volunteer search groups, which often takes place off-screen. Identification gives the family documentary confirmation and the right to a burial with military honors; for the community — the opportunity to publicly express support for the relatives and the armed forces.
In wartime conditions, delays in identification are a systemic problem: damaged infrastructure, unit movements, and difficulty accessing sites of combat engagements complicate the work. Therefore each case in which DNA testing produces a result has not only local but also symbolic significance — it demonstrates the work of state and civic mechanisms in action.
The community is invited to honor Serhii Maruda's memory — attending the farewell is important as a gesture of support for the family and as a signal of unity for those who continue to defend the country.
Eternal memory and glory to the Hero.
