Dmytro S. Onipko

41-year-old junior sergeant Dmytro Onipko died on July 17, 2023, while performing a combat mission on the territory of Bilohrudyi Island in the Kherson region. Together with a group of scouts, he went to help wounded comrades who were waiting for evacuation. Under heavy artillery and small arms fire, the group managed to rescue and successfully load the seriously wounded soldiers onto a boat. But when Dmytro went out a second time to retrieve the fallen soldier, his life was cut short by a sniper's bullet and an enemy shell. Dmytro was born and lived in Pervomaisk, Mykolaiv region. He graduated from school No. 16 and then from the Pervomaisk Professional College of the Admiral Makarov National University of Shipbuilding. In civilian life, he worked as a sales manager of automotive parts in the "EUROTRUCK" store. In his free time, he enjoyed excavations, fishing, and cars with his friends. He loved to go to the forest to pick mushrooms. From the first days of the full-scale invasion, Dmytro volunteered to defend his homeland and joined the Territorial Defense Forces of his hometown. He served in the 123rd separate brigade of the Territorial Defense Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He was the commander of the reconnaissance platoon of the 186th battalion. For his worthy service, he was awarded the honorary badge "Golden Cross" and the medal "For the Defense of Ukraine". "I lost the best son. Dmytro was caring, responsible, knew how to enjoy life, and achieve his goals. He had a good heart and a true guide in life. He always helped people who asked for it. My golden child!" said his mother Valentyna. "My brother was a sincere, cheerful person. Always positive, with golden hands, a faithful friend, and the soul of the company. He was courageous and brave. He set a goal and went and achieved it. He is a true hero, a warrior, a man who saved people's lives until his last breath. For our family, this is the most devastating loss. A wound in the heart that cannot be healed," added his sister Maryna. The defender was buried in his hometown. Dmytro is survived by his family, friends, and comrades.