Dmytro V. Zahnitko

Soldier Dmytro Zahnitko was killed on June 18, 2022, near the town of Toretsk in Donetsk region. While carrying out a combat mission, he received fatal injuries during an enemy artillery shelling. The defender was 45 years old. Dmytro was born in Odesa. He lived in the village of Zhurivka in Kyiv region. He obtained a secondary education. In civilian life, he worked for over 25 years at a car service station, engaged in repairing, bodywork, and painting vehicles. He was passionate about cars and motorcycles. From 2014 to 2017, the man participated in the Anti-Terrorist Operation as part of the 30th Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. At that time, he was a scout. In 2019, he signed a contract and took the position of mechanic-driver in the 72nd Separate Mechanized Brigade named after the Black Zaporizhzhia Cossacks. From the first days of the full-scale invasion, he defended Kyiv region alongside his comrades, then headed to Donetsk region. "Dmytro was a kind-hearted and honest person. He helped everyone. All who knew him—friends, relatives, acquaintances—loved and respected him," said his nephew Vitaliy. The soldier was buried in the village of Zhurivka in Kyiv region. Dmytro is survived by a sister, two nephews, an aunt, relatives, friends, and comrades. Posthumously, soldier Dmytro Zahnitko was awarded the Order of Courage of the III degree.