Scottish community mourns former pupil killed fighting in Ukraine

A former pupil of Kirkcudbright Academy has been killed while fighting on the frontline in eastern Ukraine, prompting tributes from his former school and the Ukrainian community in southern Scotland. Arkadii Petrov and his family moved to Dumfries and Galloway after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. He attended the Scottish high school before returning to Ukraine to fight.

He was killed in action in the east of the country. Peter Kormylo, an archivist at the Ukrainian Prisoner of War chapel in Lockerbie, said the community was deeply upset by the death. Petrov had attended services at the chapel, where he was remembered as a courteous and serious young man.

Mr. Kormylo said Petrov had arrived in Scotland at 16 or 17 with his mother, one brother and two sisters. He said the young man had remained determined to return to Ukraine and fulfil what he viewed as a patriotic duty.

Recalling Petrov’s last visit to the chapel, Mr. Kormylo said he found him alone after a service, writing what appeared to be letters but were prayers. He described him as a deep thinker who believed Ukraine would eventually win.

Anthony Tuffery, rector at Kirkcudbright Academy, said the school was saddened by the news. Although Petrov had spent only one year there completing his S6 studies, Mr. Tuffery described him as polite, respectful and hardworking.

The rector offered condolences to Petrov’s family and friends. Mr. Kormylo said the wider Ukrainian community was sharing the loss of a young refugee who had grown up in Scotland before making what he called an adult decision to return and fight.