The mother of a missing Ukrainian man traveled to London to help find him - only to find out he died in 2020. Vira Sokyrka trawled the streets of the capital searching for her son Vasyl.
He had last been seen in Mitcham when he was evicted from his property in South London. Friends had been told that Vasyl may have suffered a head injury and was living among the homeless community.
He was eventually reported missing to police in December 2020 after pals failed to find him. As reported by MyLondon, his loved ones then chased over a hundred leads in their hunt for Vasyl, many coming over from Ukraine.
They were told dozens of time that Vasyl had been sighted across the capital. Then, in July 2022, Ms Sokyrka was finally able to visit London herself as the war gave her the chance to apply for refugee status.
Ms Sokyrka continued her search for Vasyl only to be told he had died on July 19, 2020, having been found dead in Lambeth Cemetery. His death is currently being treated as not suspicious.
One of those who had helped in the search for Vasyl was Leysa Leysa. She also acted as a spokesperson for his mother.
She was shocked by the death and especially its timing as she had co-ordinated multiple efforts to go out on to the streets and search for the 41-year-old. "We searched for Vasyl for nearly two years," she said.
"We had been told he was homeless and went round shelters and popular homeless hangouts across London. Hundreds of people recognised Vasyl and throughout the two years he was missing we were told by soup kitchens, charities, and homeless people that Vasyl had recently been seen and that he was still alive. We had a lot of hope that we would find him.
"His mum had not been able to come over from the Ukraine as her visa wouldn't allow it. Instead she had been sat at home and worrying about her son, sending family and friends to try and search the streets for him."
She said Vasyl's mum went to the police to ask for more information about her son and they did a DNA test. A week later, two officers turned up at her door and told her that he had died.
"She is heartbroken and can't believe that he is dead," she said. "After so many people confirming that they have seen him she is in a state of disbelief.
"She can't quite believe that after two years it has taken so long for the police to confirm that he is dead. His whole group of family and friends are just in a state of shock."
Despite Vasyl having died in 2020, a police appeal was put out by Merton Police in January 2021, where they asked for any information on his whereabouts. The Metropolitan Police confirmed that Vasyl had died in July 2020 and was reported missing in December 2020.
