Artem V. Kuryliak (Hapsian)

Paratrooper Artem Kurilyak (call sign Gapsyan) was killed on September 12, 2022 near the village of Novomykhailivka in the Donetsk region. During the performance of a combat mission, the soldier received shrapnel wounds as a result of enemy shelling. He was 34 years old. Artem was born in Odesa. In childhood, he lived in the Kirovohrad region, where he graduated from the Oleksandrivka secondary school. Then he moved to the city of Mala Vyska, where he lived with his family. He worked in construction. He was passionate about cars.From the first days of the full-scale Russian invasion, Artem joined the defense of Ukraine in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He served in the 79th Separate Airborne Assault Brigade, holding the position of a sniper-rifleman. "Artem was sincere, courageous, reliable, a faithful husband, brother, friend, the best dad in the world! From the very beginning of the invasion, without hesitation, he went voluntarily to defend our state from the enemy. Even though I was 8 months pregnant! When our daughter was born, Artem was happy, promised that when he returned, he would buy me a big bouquet of roses... But, unfortunately, he only saw our daughter through the phone screen... Artem never complained that it was difficult for him. Every time I asked if he needed anything, he replied that he had everything! His comrades-in-arms only speak positively about Artem, he was an example for other servicemen. We lost the best, dearest husband, dad and brother!" - said the wife of the fallen Tetyana. The defender was buried in the "Khomivske" cemetery in the village of Oleksandrivka, Kirovohrad region. Artem left behind a wife, a daughter, and three children from a previous marriage. A memorial plaque in honor of the defender was installed in the city of Mala Vyska.