Tributes paid to former Kirkcudbright schoolboy killed in Ukraine

Kormylo described Petrov as a “very pleasant young man” who had arrived in Scotland with his mother and three younger siblings – one brother and two sisters.

However, he said he had always been keen to go back to Ukraine and fight.

“All I can say about the boy is, having met him on a few occasions, he was a very courteous young man and quite a serious young man,” he said.

“The last time I remember him being at the chapel I found him, when everyone had gone, sitting in the chapel writing a couple of what looked like letters – but in actual fact were prayers.

“He was a deep thinker and obviously felt the need to do what many Ukrainians are doing and that’s fulfill their patriotic duty.”