Andrii O. Diachenko (Diak)

Junior Sergeant Andrii Diachenko (call sign Diak) was killed on January 5, 2023, while carrying out a combat mission in the village of Klishchiyivka in the Donetsk region. The warrior turned 28 years old on December 31. Andrii was born in the village of Bilohorodka, Kyiv region. In 2011, he graduated from Bilohorodka Lyceum No. 1. In 2013, he began service in the National Guard of Ukraine in Kyiv. In 2015, he fought in the ATO in Donbas. He was engaged in boxing, participated in competitions, and won prizes. He was passionate about cars. After the full-scale Russian invasion, Andrii joined the territorial defense forces. Then he underwent training and became a fighter of the 21st separate special forces battalion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Later, as part of his unit, the fighter defended the city of Bakhmut. "It is impossible to believe and impossible to comprehend. Everyone is proud of Andrii. He is our Hero, our Defender, and our Intercessor. In the hearts of his relatives and friends, he is a brave, kind, sincere, honest, sociable, purposeful, polite guy who did not have time to do so much. Five days before his death, on December 31, Andrii turned 28 years old, and now forever 28. The heavy loss of a son, grandson, and brother is still hard to wrap one's head around," said the sister of the fallen Liudmyla. The defender was buried in his native village. Andrii is survived by his father, grandmother, relatives, and friends.