Andrii S. Khrapanov (Pardus)

Junior Sergeant Andriy Khrapanov (call sign Pardus) was killed on January 7, 2023, in a battle with the occupiers in the area of the village of Klishchiyivka in the Donetsk region. The 37-year-old warrior's life was cut short by enemy mortar fire. Andriy was born in the village of Dniprovske in the Dnipropetrovsk region. He was a professional athlete. He was a Master of Sports of Ukraine in free-fight, a national category referee, and a coach at the Upgrade sports club. In the past, he was a deputy of the Verkhnodniprovsk City Council. During the full-scale Russian invasion, Andriy joined the airborne assault troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He was an instructor in the training group of the headquarters of the 1st Airmobile Battalion. "We all remember Andriy as a positive, cheerful friend, a sports fan, and a professional. Even in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, he did not forget about sports, constantly trained himself, united everyone who was interested in martial arts, and gladly shared his knowledge," the Free-Fight Federation of Ukraine wrote. "Colleagues, friends, and fellow countrymen know him as an active person who cared about the problems of his native village and the entire community. He loved sports and wanted to develop it, but went to defend the Motherland," said Natalia, an acquaintance of the deceased. "My beloved, my dear, it hurts me very much. I still don't believe it, I'm out of breath, everything inside is breaking. I don't want to endure such a loss," wrote his wife Margarita. Andriy was buried in his native village. The defender left behind a wife and two sons.