Denys V. Hryshchenko (Kucheriavyi)

Junior Sergeant Denys Hryshchenko (call sign Curly) was killed on January 11, 2023, in a battle with Russian invaders in the area of the village of Klishchiyivka in the Donetsk region. He gathered fighters from various formations around him and for more than five hours fought an unequal battle against the overwhelming forces of the enemy under tank attack and intense artillery fire. He stood until the end, was killed after receiving several wounds. On December 20, the warrior would have turned 42 years old. Denys was born in Simferopol, Crimea. In 1997, he graduated from school No. 18. From a young age, he was a guitarist, later - the vocalist of the rock band "Lithium", which resumed its activities in Kyiv after the Russian occupation of Crimea. He was a DJ resident at the "2 Captains" club. He was actively involved in wakeboarding in the Crimea. He continued to engage in this in Kyiv as well. He was an activist of the Automaidan, participated in the Revolution of Dignity. After the occupation of Crimea by Russia, he remained in Kyiv and went to fight as a volunteer, participated in the ATO / JFO. After the start of the full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, the man again joined the ranks of the defenders. He joined the DFTG of Ukrainka, Kyiv region. Later, as part of the 1st mechanized platoon of the 214th separate special battalion "OPFOR", he took part in battles in other hotspots. Denys believed in the deoccupation of Crimea and very much wanted to liberate his native peninsula. In one of the last posts, already being mobilized, he wrote on Instagram: "I'm going home." "Den was very strong in spirit, a man with a capital letter, he deserves great respect, he always helped everyone and always covered everyone. He gave his life, fighting to the last against the overwhelming forces of the enemy," his comrade-in-arms Yevhen Tkachenko said. On January 21, 2023, the warrior's body was cremated in Kyiv for reburial in his homeland after the deoccupation of Crimea. Temporarily buried at the Baikove cemetery in the capital. Denys is survived by his parents, wife, daughter, many friends and comrades-in-arms. The hero was posthumously awarded the Order of Courage, 3rd degree.