More than a year after her mother died, Alla Kotliarova buried her for the third — and she hopes final — time. There was no priest, no tearful neighbors, no ceremonial procession to the cemetery sitting among thin pine trees at the end of town. But there was at least some measure of closure for Ms. Kotliarova, 62, who laid her mother, Tamara Kotliarova, to rest in the family plot. No official cause of death was listed, though her mother had long grappled with diabetes, but Ms. Kotliarova is convinced that the stress of the Russian invasion and occupation hastened her demise. “If it weren’t for this war, she wouldn’t have died,” said Ms. Kotliarova, as she wiped tears from her eyes with a small handkerchief and placed flowers and snacks on the sandy funeral mound.

---

Persons: Alla Kotliarova, Kotliarova, Tamara Kotliarova, wouldn’t, ”