Dmytro P. Yuriev

Dmitry Yuryev (call sign Taets), the chief petty officer, died on March 11, 2022 while performing a combat mission in Mariupol, Donetsk region. The defender was 31 years old. Dmitry was born and lived in Mariupol. He graduated from the local vocational metallurgical lyceum. He was a professional Muay Thai boxer. He dreamed of opening his own sports club and training children. In 2018, he became the world champion in his weight class. That same year, he became a maritime border guard. He planned to master the diving profession in the future. After the start of the full-scale invasion on March 2, 2022, Dima took his wife and children to the apartment of his colleague. He then returned to service. They last spoke with him on March 8, his birthday, for no more than 5 minutes, as there was no connection in the city. A week later, his wife and children left Mariupol. On March 18, she learned that Dima was likely killed, considered missing. She began searching for him, calling "hotlines" and contacting various services. It was not until September that she was informed that in Kyiv there were two bodies with the same rings as theirs. One of the dead was Dima. In life, he was the perfect brother, husband and father. At the age of 20, he became the guardian of his 10-year-old sister Sasha, as their mother had passed away. He motivated our children to engage in sports. He helped me with everything, surprising me with gifts. In 2019, as a sign of our love, we got matching tattoos of two wings on our hands. This was Dima's idea. We chose the design together, he wanted the wings to come together when we held hands. After Dima's death, I added his signature to my tattoo. Now he has become our guardian angel. On December 6, the warrior's body was cremated in Kyiv. Dmitry was buried at the Bilohorodske cemetery. At home, his wife, two sons and younger sister were waiting for him.