Mykhailo M. Babii (Potap)

Serviceman Mykhailo Babii (call sign Potap) was killed on January 19, 2023, in a battle with the occupiers near the village of Krasnopillia in the Donetsk region. The defender's life was cut short by enemy artillery fire. The warrior was forever 44 years old. Mykhailo was born in the village of Rakovets, Ivano-Frankivsk region. He graduated from the Horodenka Vocational Lyceum. He worked abroad. Before the full-scale invasion, he was in Poland for earnings. After February 24, 2022, the man decided to join the Armed Forces of Ukraine to liberate Ukrainian lands from the occupiers. In May, he became a serviceman of the 10th Separate Mountain Assault Brigade "Edelweiss". He underwent training and the following month went with his comrades-in-arms to defend the Bakhmut direction in the Donetsk region. "We are all people, and I do not believe that anyone does not feel the fate of our guys, our bright warriors who fought and continue to fight for our freedom, our peace. The price of this is very dear, because some will no longer feel the warm hugs of their wives, children, parents, relatives, friends and comrades-in-arms. One of these guys was my husband, who was remembered by everyone as a wonderful person with a sincere heart and a kind soul. He never refused anything, he just couldn't. He stood to the end during the offensive of the "Wagnerites" in the Bakhmut direction. I cannot convey the pain that I and our children still feel. God forbid anyone to feel it. That's why I'm doing everything to keep my husband's soul at peace, so that he didn't stand in vain there, in the hellish torments, for our freedom," wrote Maria Babii. The soldier was buried in his native village. Mykhailo left behind his mother, wife, two sons, sister and a large family.