03-11-2023, 09:58 PM
Dmytro Kotsiubailo (Ukrainian: Дмитро Іванович Коцюбайло, nickname Da Vinci (Ukrainian: Да Вінчі); 1 November 1995 – 7 March 2023) was a Ukrainian volunteer, soldier, junior lieutenant, a commander of the 1st Mechanized Battalion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He was a participant in the Russo-Ukrainian War. Kotsiubailo was the youngest battalion commander in the history of the Ukrainian Army. He was allegedly linked with the Right Sector.[1]
In December 2021 President Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarded Kotsiubailo the Hero of Ukraine Ukraine decoration, the country's highest honour.[2] In 2022, he was included in the 30 under 30: Faces of the Future rating by Forbes.[3]
Dmytro Kotsiubailo was born on 1 November 1995 in the village of Zadnistrianske, now Burshtyn community, Ivano-Frankivsk Raion, Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, Ukraine. He graduated from Bovshivka Secondary School and Ivano-Frankivsk Art Lyceum.
He was an active participant of the Revolution of Dignity. Participant of the Russo-Ukrainian War, in particular, a platoon commander of volunteers (2014) and a company (2015). In 2014, he was wounded in Pisky, Donetsk Oblast, and returned to the front after recovery. On 17 March 2016, he was appointed commander of the 1st Mechanized Battalion "Da Vinci Wolves" of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
On 7 March 2023, Kotsiubailo was killed in the battles of Bakhmut. This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in his video address: Today, 'Da Vinci', a Hero of Ukraine, a volunteer, a man-symbol, a man of courage, Dmytro Kotsiubailo, was killed in action. A fighter of the 67th separate mechanized brigade, a commander. He died in the battle near Bakhmut, in the battle for Ukraine.[4]
Awards[edit]
In December 2021 President Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarded Kotsiubailo the Hero of Ukraine Ukraine decoration, the country's highest honour.[2] In 2022, he was included in the 30 under 30: Faces of the Future rating by Forbes.[3]
Dmytro Kotsiubailo was born on 1 November 1995 in the village of Zadnistrianske, now Burshtyn community, Ivano-Frankivsk Raion, Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, Ukraine. He graduated from Bovshivka Secondary School and Ivano-Frankivsk Art Lyceum.
He was an active participant of the Revolution of Dignity. Participant of the Russo-Ukrainian War, in particular, a platoon commander of volunteers (2014) and a company (2015). In 2014, he was wounded in Pisky, Donetsk Oblast, and returned to the front after recovery. On 17 March 2016, he was appointed commander of the 1st Mechanized Battalion "Da Vinci Wolves" of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
On 7 March 2023, Kotsiubailo was killed in the battles of Bakhmut. This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in his video address: Today, 'Da Vinci', a Hero of Ukraine, a volunteer, a man-symbol, a man of courage, Dmytro Kotsiubailo, was killed in action. A fighter of the 67th separate mechanized brigade, a commander. He died in the battle near Bakhmut, in the battle for Ukraine.[4]
Awards[edit]
- the title of Hero of Ukraine with the Order of the Golden Star (30 November 2021) — for personal courage in the defense of state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine;[5]
- Order of the People's Hero of Ukraine (2017).[6]
The ideal subject of totalitarian rule is not the convinced Nazi or the dedicated Communist but instead the people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction, true and false, no longer exists -- Hannah Arendt.