For Three Months, He Was Listed as Missing — The Story of Surgeon Yevhen Lutsenko
Yevhen Lutsenko, a Ukrainian surgeon at the Chernihiv Medical Center for Modern Oncology, was killed on March 13, 2022, when Russian troops fired on a bus he was traveling in. For three months, his family and colleagues searched for answers, until DNA testing finally confirmed his death.
Born on February 4, 1992, Lutsenko earned his medical degree from the Vinnytsia National Medical University. In 2018, near the end of his residency, he began working in the oncothoracic department of the Chernihiv Medical Center for Modern Oncology. After the full-scale invasion began, he stayed in Chernihiv to continue treating cancer patients.
A Deadly Attack
On March 13, 2022, Lutsenko was traveling by bus from the regional center to visit his family in a nearby village. Between the villages of Lukashivka and Kolychivka in Chernihiv Oblast, Russian forces struck the bus with an anti-tank missile, killing the surgeon.
“Yevhen had worked at the Center since 2018. He was a promising surgeon who took part in complex operations. During the siege of Chernihiv, he stayed behind to help critically ill patients.”
Oleksandr Zaika, Acting General Director of the Chernihiv Center for Modern Oncology
The death of Yevhen Lutsenko represents a profound loss for the medical community and his loved ones. His memory will live on in the hearts of those he helped and those who knew him.
Lutsenko's death highlights the tragic toll of war on Ukraine, particularly the loss of medical workers who continue to fight for patients' health even under extreme conditions. His example serves as a reminder of the importance of the medical profession and the dedication of doctors who put others' lives first. Honoring the memory of such heroes is a crucial step in the country's post-conflict recovery and in supporting a medical community that has suffered immense losses.