Illia V. Haiduk

Centurion of the Ingul Cossack Host of the Zaporozhian Host. Commander of the Kryvyi Rih self-defense. Sergeant of the 25th Separate Airborne Brigade. Conducted military training for volunteers ready to defend the Motherland. Embraced the credo of the Cold Yar insurgents: "Freedom for Ukraine or death." Brothers recount: "Ilya, with several Cossacks of self-defense, was the first to arrive to defend the flag at the city council. And when they were offered to retreat until our reinforcements arrived, because there were more than a hundred 'titushki' coming to seize the Kryvyi Rih council, he said: 'Even if I remain alone, I will not allow the Ukrainian flag to be taken down.' He visited the military enlistment office several times, wishing to defend Ukraine 'from the Russian filth' (a phrase of Ilko). He always came to help. He rushed to assist comrades defending the Luhansk airport. Just a few hours before the flight, his sister asked: 'Ilyusha, you can refuse, why do you need this?' He replied: 'Who, if not me?!' On June 6, during the celebration of his 21st birthday in a Cossack circle, Ilko said: 'I have lived such a short life, but I have so many true friends that some have not gained over many years.' Just a week later, he passed into eternity. On his memorial Cossack cross, it is written: 'No one has greater love than this, that someone lays down his soul for his friends.' He died around 1:00 AM in a military transport aircraft Il-76, which was shot down by terrorists during the approach to land at Luhansk airport. By the decree of the President of Ukraine No. 543/2014 dated June 20, 2014, 'for personal courage and heroism displayed in the defense of the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, loyalty to the military oath, and indomitable spirit,' he was posthumously awarded the Order of Courage III degree. Eternal glory!