Denys O. Yatsiuk

Aerorecognizance officer Denys Yatsyuk (call sign Ned) died on December 12, 2023 near Avdiivka in the Donetsk region. In the battle with the occupiers, he suffered a fatal explosive injury. The defender was now forever 39 years old. Denys was born in Dnipro, where he lived his whole life. He studied at school No. 112. Then he entered the Oles Honchar Dnipro National University. He studied journalism. He worked as an operator and journalist at the 51st Dnipropetrovsk State TV channel. At the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the man joined the DFTG "Varta Dnipra". While serving in the volunteer formation, during breaks between duty shifts, he encouraged his comrades-in-arms to acquire new necessary knowledge and skills in medicine, tactics of combat, etc., and searched for possible options to acquire this knowledge and improve it. Later, he joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine and defended the positions as part of the 23rd Separate Mechanized Brigade. He served in the aerorecognizance unit. "Denys was friendly, kind and caring. He always approached everything he did in life conscientiously and responsibly. He was a person with a capital letter, whom everyone remembers with warmth. He loved his family and country the most. He fought for justice both in civilian life and in the military. He tried to do everything in his power to bring the greatest benefit. And he inspired others to do the same," his friends Yulia and Natalia said. "When they say 'charismatic person', you imagine a stern, strong guy, but it was different with Den. He was genuine, open, principled, and could find words of support for everyone. He had charisma, and people involuntarily turned around and asked themselves: 'How would Denys do it?' It is impossible to speak of him in the past tense, because even now, when he is not around, we feel his warmth, his gaze, we hear his laughter and jokes. It was an honor to call him a friend," recalls the fallen warrior's close friend Kostiantyn. Denys' body was cremated, and his ashes were scattered over the Dnipro River in his hometown. The hero left behind a loving family and friends.