Of love, pain and loss at historic Ukraine cemetery

A visitor reacting at a graveside at Lychakiv military cemetery in Lviv, Ukraine on March 18, 2023, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Photos: AFP

At a historic military cemetery in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, Valeriy Pushko lights up two cigarettes. One is for himself, the other for his son whose portrait is fixed to a cross planted in the ground.

“I smoke with my son,” said the grey-haired man.