Kyrylo O. Baiev (Baian)

Baiev Kyrylo Andriiovych was born on June 14, 2001, in Kharkiv. He studied at Kharkiv Secondary School No. 119 and then enrolled in the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports at Hryhorii Skovoroda Kharkiv National Pedagogical University. From a young age, he was passionate about sports, particularly combat sports. He practiced martial arts, which became the main focus of his sports career. From 2011 to 2015, he practiced judo at the Slobozhanets sports club, and from 2015 to 2018, he practiced MMA. He was a multiple champion of the Kharkiv region in Cossack wrestling, the Ukrainian champion in Cossack wrestling (Sumy), the holder of the World Cup in Cossack wrestling (Odesa), and a medalist in the World Championship and the Ukrainian Horting Championship (Zaporizhzhia). In 2016, he became a Candidate for Master of Sports in Cossack wrestling. Later, he joined the fan base of the Kharkiv football club Metalist. In 2023, he was supposed to defend his bachelor's degree, but after the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, he postponed his studies and, along with his teammates, joined the unit that later became known as the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine "Kraken". He participated in the battles for the liberation of Balakliia and Kupiansk-Vuzlovyi. He was killed on January 14, 2023, during the performance of a combat mission, falling into an ambush near the city of Soledar in the Bakhmut district of Donetsk region. Despite his injuries, he eliminated the enemy machine gun point, allowing the wounded to be evacuated.