In Kyiv – the last respect for Tad Tums, who died at the front: anthems were played, soldiers kneeled down to say goodbye

On Thursday, about half an hour before noon, people gathered at the cathedral.

As reported by someone who was there 15min journalist Dominyka Bukšaitytė, the coffin with the remains of the Lithuanian was brought about half an hour after noon, but more and more people gathered at the scheduled time. Among them are the representatives of the “Snake Island” instructor mission in Ukraine, who organized this tribute to T. Tum.

“Ukrainian and Lithuanian flags were flying near the cathedral,” said D. Bukšaitytė.

VIDEO: With prayers and friends nearby: Lithuanian Tadas Tumas, who died in the war, was honored in Kyiv

Tad’s friend Agata, who came here, said that T. Tumas is an example for all of us. He proved that Lithuanians and Ukrainians are brothers, determined to extend a hand to each other.

VIDEO: “Lithuanians are brothers of Ukrainians and Tadas showed it”: friend Agata remembers Lithuanian Tadas Tumas, who died at the front

Among the first to come to the cathedral together with Tad’s comrades, among other Lithuanians was the Lithuanian ambassador to Ukraine V. Sarapinas.

After the tribute ceremony, the remains of T. Tumos will be cremated, and the urn will travel to Lithuania. It is planned that the funeral will take place in Lithuania on Friday or Saturday of next week, but Tad’s comrades say that they cannot name the exact date – everything will depend on how they manage to come from Ukraine.

VIDEO: Farewell to Lithuanian soldier Tad Tums, who died in Ukraine, is said in Kyiv: friends are already gathering in the square

The coffin with the remains of T. Tumos was brought to the cathedral a little after 12:30 p.m. Before that, a ceremony was held here to honor another fallen soldier.

“Tad was killed fighting the in writing occupiers, defending the freedom and independence of Ukraine, which means the freedom and independence of all of us”, Lithuanian Ambassador to Ukraine V. Sarapinas told the audience.

“This terrible war, unfortunately, is still going on, and the damned orcs are trying to do everything to disrupt our lives, but they will not succeed, because we know how unbreakable the armed forces of Ukraine are, how unbreakable the will of ordinary Ukrainians is, how unbreakable are the partners of Ukraine and the support of friends”, said the ambassador.

“Lithuania was, is and always will be with Ukraine, because this is also our fight against the damned in striped orcs”, – he added.

Photo by Pauliaus Peleckis/BNS/Farewell to Tad Tum-Milžin

After the ceremony in the cathedral, the casket with T. Tum’s remains is honored next to it. Here the flags of Lithuania and Ukraine were handed over to Tad’s comrades, and the anthems of Lithuania and Ukraine were sung.

VIDEO: Kneeling soldiers and trumpeters: Tadas, the hero of Ukraine and Lithuania, is seen off in Kyiv

A hero both in Lithuania and Ukraine

Ambassador V. Sarapinas, who came to honor the deceased T. Tumos, 15min said that the help of the Lithuanian embassy in preparing the funeral is mainly counseling.

“We consulted relatives, people authorized by the family, who are still here. Officials of our consular department, military men consulted. And the main role of organization belongs to the Ukrainians, the Ukrainian army”, said the ambassador.

VIDEO: The ambassador to Ukraine about a Lithuanian who died in the war: “It’s not just a buzz word, Tad is a hero both in Lithuania and Ukraine”

According to the ambassador, the fact that Tad is honored in Kyiv is very important: “This is a man who fought for Ukraine, for its freedom and independence. At the same time – for our freedom and independence. So we will pay our respects.

These are not just loud words, this is a man who is a hero both in Lithuania and Ukraine.”

Saying his last goodbye to Tad, the ambassador also said: “Rest in peace, dear Tad. You will forever remain a hero in the hearts of sessions, Ukrainian brothers, and all Lithuanians. Eternal glory to you. Glory to Lithuania. Glory to Ukraine.”

The Ukrainian army is taking care of the funeral

Aiva Maliauskienė, one of the organizers of the tribute to Tad Tums in Kyiv, said that the Lithuanian army did not need a large contribution in the preparation of the farewell – the Ukrainian army organizes everything by itself according to available procedures.

“The army did everything very smoothly, they try to do everything as soon as possible, because they understood how important it is that Lithuania is waiting”, said A. Maliauskienė.

VIDEO: Aiva, who organized the tribute to Karios Tad: the heroes are bid farewell as it should be

The funeral in Lithuania will be held not only for family and relatives, Aiva assured, because, “in the eyes of all of us, this is a hero”: “This is a person who came not only to help Ukraine fight the enemy, but at the same time to stop them (Russians – ed. post. ), so that we would be safer in Lithuania.

That’s why he is a hero to us, and heroes are said goodbye as it should be.”

In Ukraine, there is a tradition of the Foreign Legion to say goodbye to their fallen fellow soldiers who have come from abroad: “This is how they say thank you and say goodbye.”

“Could live under the protection of NATO”

“He could live in a free Europe, enjoy life, protected by NATO. He could play with his two babies and love his woman. He could do it. But when he realized that if this Russian plague is not stopped, sooner or later war will come to his country, to his city, to his home… And he set out to defend Ukraine, which today protects the entire civilized world…

He died. Set out as a warrior of light. Like a real hero. But he died that others might live…

On Thursday, we will escort Tad Tumas to St. Nicholas Cathedral in Kyiv, which has become the last shrine of all our soldiers,” wrote Konstantinas Gudauskas on social networks, inviting him to say goodbye to T. Tumus.

After the farewell, the remains of T. Tumos will be brought to Lithuania.

Killed by a drone

The death of T. Tumos, nicknamed “Milžinas”, was reported on February 23. He was 42 years old.

Sigitas Maliauskas, head of the “Snake Island” instructor mission in Ukraine, said that a Lithuanian and a Ukrainian were transporting mines to the front lines near Bachmut, when their car was hit by a Russian FPV drone.

More – Lithuanian soldier “Milžinas” was killed in Ukraine: he left with D. Žalim’s group.

15min as far as we know, this is the first Lithuanian killed in combat operations in Ukraine. Earlier, it was reported about several Lithuanian fighters wounded in the battles.

in 2023 Valery Polkovnikovas, a Lithuanian who fought for Ukraine in Bakhmut, died in Kyiv hospital in the summer. The friend who reported his death said that V. Polkovnikov died from the injuries sustained in Bakhmut, but the Lithuanian Embassy in Ukraine did not confirm the news about the injuries. It was later clarified that the wounds were not the main cause of death.