A pregnant Ukrainian soldier has been widowed at 21 after her husband was killed in action during Russia's full-scale invasion. Junior sergeant Danyil Smyrnov was one of four soldiers who died on the Sumy front in northeastern Ukraine on August 28.
His widow, Yeva Smyrnova, who is eight months pregnant with their son, attended his funeral held on September 3 at St. Michael's Golden-Domed Monastery in Kyiv. "He wanted all of us to be able to live in peace," she said. "And in the end, he paid for that with his life."
The couple met when they joined the army at age 18 in 2023 and married two years later in July 2025. Smyrnov served as a reconnaissance operator and helped train recruits, while his wife was a drone pilot. The increasing danger of the war prompted their decision to start a family.
"We dreamed of this child, but because we were both always at war, it was very difficult," Smyrnova stated. Five days after her husband's death, she posted on social media that their son, "little Smirnov," was due to be born in a few weeks, representing his father's legacy.
Smyrnov was 16 when Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022. He had begun studying psychology at a Lithuanian university but returned to Ukraine when fighting intensified near Bakhmut, where his uncle was serving. On his 18th birthday, he signed a military contract.
His father, Oleksandr, recalled his son's announcement: "He called me that evening, very happy, and said, 'Sorry, Dad, I signed the contract. I forged your signature. Forgive me.'" Despite his grief, his father found comfort in the prospect of having a grandson.
Smyrnov commanded an assault group in the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade before being wounded and undergoing rehabilitation. He later transferred to Ukrainian military intelligence. He frequently shared his experiences of the war with over 40,000 followers on Instagram, where he reflected on the value of life and the nature of war, stating, "War is not romance. It's an experience that strips you down to what's real."