Oleh V. Katrych (Kelt)

Katrich Oleg Volodymyrovich was born on December 27, 1977 in the city of Mariupol, Donetsk region. He was a native of Mariupol (in the third generation). He was raised in a working-class family by his mother, grandmother, and grandfather. He graduated from the Priazov State Technical University and worked at the Ilyich Metallurgical Plant for almost 10 years. In the summer of 2014, he joined the ranks of the Azov volunteer battalion, took part in the liberation of the Donetsk region, including the city of Mariinka and settlements near Mariupol, in the Pavlopil-Shyrokyne operation in 2015, where he was wounded in combat. Until the end of 2019, he served in the ranks of the Azov regiment as a mortar platoon commander. He spent most of his time at the front. After being discharged for health reasons, he moved to Slovakia with his family for a while. On the very first day of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, on February 24, he returned to his homeland. From February 26 to March 25, 2022, he took part in the defense of the Kyiv region. On March 25, he was the commander of the first group of paratroopers who were transported to Mariupol by helicopter. He helped plan the route for the helicopters on the outskirts of Mariupol. He was killed in combat on March 26, 2022 on his native street during the defense of Mariupol. He left behind a wife, son, daughter, and elderly mother. Only in early June 2022 was the body of the fallen exchanged and delivered to Kyiv. He was identified by his tattoo.