Dmytro V. Hrabko

Junior Sergeant Dmytro Hrabko was killed on May 9, 2023, near the settlement of Spirne in the Donetsk region. When the group of defenders was returning from a combat mission, their vehicle was hit by an enemy rocket. In a month, the soldier would have turned 26 years old. Dmytro was born and lived in the village of Ridkivtsi, Chernivtsi region. He graduated from school there. In 2016, he obtained the profession of a universal machine operator at the Chernivtsi Vocational Mechanical Engineering Lyceum. He graduated from the Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University with a degree in Physical Education. During his studies at the university, he served in the ranks of the National Guard of Ukraine. He played football, coached children, and was the goalkeeper of the Ridkivtsi football club. He was always active and loved to learn new things. During the full-scale invasion, the young man voluntarily took up the defense of the Motherland. He joined the ranks of the National Guard of Ukraine. He served in the 14th Operational Purpose Brigade named after Ivan Bohun. "A person is a bright sun that has always supported and helped others. He had golden hands and a mega-brain, he quickly solved problems and generated new ideas. Young, promising, he had many plans and dreams. When the war started, Dmytro volunteered, helped families who came to our region. And then he decided to volunteer. He didn't want to stay in the rear, he was eager to go to the front line, despite all the pleas of his relatives. As a junior sergeant, he tried to improve his skills and knowledge. He underwent training as a platoon combat medic, and took the position of a BTR-80 gunner-operator. But he didn't stop there, he continued to study to become a UAV operator. He loved Ukraine, he loved the people who live here, so he considered it his duty to win this war at any cost. For this, he gave his life. Dima is the best son, loving brother, caring uncle, loyal friend, brave Warrior... Our Hero, who gave his life for his family, for victory, for freedom," said the deceased's sister Maria. The hero was buried in his native village. Dmytro Hrabko is survived by his parents and sister. Posthumously, Dmytro Hrabko was awarded the Order of Courage of the III degree and the honorary distinction "For Merits to Bukovyna".