On Thursday, March 9, in the village of Bovshev, Ivano-Frankivsk region, Hero of Ukraine Dmitry “Da Vinci” Kotsyubaylo was taken on his last journey. The warrior died in battle near Bakhmut on March 7.
Hundreds of people came to say goodbye to the defender. Dmitry was the commander of the Da Vinci Wolves special unit.
How did the farewell to the Hero happen?
Farewell to “Da Vinci” took place in the Bovshev People's House. The villagers honored the deceased Hero.
Local resident Maria Gnatyuk said that Dmitry was a kind and decent person, always helped others and was obedient.
In the Carpathian region they said goodbye to Dmitry Kotsyubail / Photo by Yan Dobronosov, “Suspilne”
Vasily Abramov, the former head of the “Right Sector” in the Ivano-Frankivsk region, together with “Da Vinci” went through the Maidan, the first battles in 2014-2015 for the freedom of Ukraine.
They were with him during the storming of Karlovka, participated in the liberation of the village of Sands, then – participation in the operation on Savur-mogila. Dmitry grew from an ordinary attack aircraft to a unit commander. Courageous, strong-willed, brave guy, our countryman. I think his way of a warrior is an example for future generations. It’s hard that such young guys are dying now,” the soldier says.
Da Vinci is survived by his brother, four sisters, mother and grandmother.
The editors of Channel 24 sincerely condole with the family, friends and relatives of the Hero. This is an irreparable loss for our entire country. We will remember the Hero of Dmitry “Da Vinci” Kotsyubailo forever! To him eternal memory and glory!
Hero's brother, Vadim Kotsyubaylo, said that Dmitry would be buried in Kyiv on March 10.
What do you know about Da Vinci?
- Kotsyubaylo became the first volunteer to receive the title of Hero of Ukraine. He began defending Ukraine from Russian occupiers back in 2014 at the age of 18.
- In 2015, near Peski, Donetsk region, a soldier was seriously wounded by a tank shell. However, after 3 months of rehabilitation, “Da Vinci” returned to the front.
- Subsequently, the defender became the commander of the 1st separate assault company of the Right Sector, and in 2021 Vladimir Zelensky awarded Da Vinci the title of Hero of Ukraine with the Golden Star.
- After the start of a full-scale invasion, Dmitry “Da Vinci” Kotsyubaylo fought in the Kiev and Zaporozhye regions. Participated in the de-occupation of Balakliya and defended Bakhmut.
- On Tuesday, March 7, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the death of the Hero “Da Vinci”, who died in the battle near Bakhmut. Zelensky stressed that Kotsyubaylo was one of the youngest heroes of Ukraine.
