Artem O. Zabolotnyi (Khadzhyn)

19-year-old soldier Artem Zabolotnyi (call sign Khadzhyn) died on November 5, 2023 near the village of Novoprokopivka in the Zaporizhzhia region. While carrying out a combat mission, he came under enemy artillery fire and sustained fatal injuries. Artem was from the village of Ivanivka in the Donetsk region. He graduated from the local school there. In 2021-2022, he studied at the Volnovakha Vocational and Technical School, where he obtained the qualification of tractor-machine operator in agricultural production. He was involved in sports, loved football and basketball. The young man had always dreamed of being a soldier. Therefore, in January 2022, when he turned 18, he signed a contract to serve in the National Guard of Ukraine. He held the position of grenade launcher assistant in the 3rd Brigade of Special Purpose. He met the full-scale invasion together with his comrades and bravely defended the Motherland from the Russian invaders. "Artem was not like his peers, he was always a sunny person with a smile on his face, never gave up and always went to the end. He never said how hard and scary it was for him. At the age of 18, he voluntarily went to defend our country, risking his life, pulled out his comrades and never left them in trouble. He was young, but courageous. Everyone who knew him can only say good things. For me, he was the best. My beloved angel. We miss him very much..." said the deceased's girlfriend Maia Ivaniuk. The young warrior was buried in the central cemetery in the village of Liutentski Budyshcha, Poltava region. Artem is survived by his mother, grandmother, brother and beloved girlfriend.