Former UK School Pupil Killed Fighting in Ukraine

Arkadii Petrov, a former pupil of Kirkcudbright Academy in Scotland, has been killed in action in eastern Ukraine. Petrov and his family relocated to Dumfries and Galloway in 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. He attended Kirkcudbright Academy before deciding to return to his home country to fight.

Peter Kormylo, an archivist at the Ukrainian Prisoner of War chapel in Lockerbie, where Petrov had attended services, described him as a "very pleasant young man." Kormylo noted that Petrov had arrived in Scotland with his mother and three younger siblings and had always expressed a desire to return to Ukraine to fight.

"He was a deep thinker and obviously felt the need to do what many Ukrainians are doing and that's fulfill their patriotic duty," Kormylo said. He added that Petrov was 21 years old at the time of his death, stating, "He'll be forever 21."

Anthony Tuffery, rector at Kirkcudbright Academy, expressed sadness over Petrov's death, noting that he was a "polite, respectful and hardworking young man" during his year at the school. The school extended its deepest sympathies to Petrov's family and friends.

Petrov's death has been felt by the wider Ukrainian community in the south of Scotland, with Kormylo remarking that everyone "feels this pain."