Vasyl Yu. Kopan (Neznaika)

Colonel Vasyl Kopan (call sign Neznaika) was killed on September 8, 2024, in the area of the village of Leonidivka, Donetsk region. The military, together with his comrade-in-arms, went to the positions and came under enemy artillery fire. The defender was 28 years old. Vasyl was born in Mariupol, Donetsk region. After graduating from school, he entered the Mariupol Electromechanical Vocational College. His hobbies were sports and American football. He played for the Mariupol team "Azov Dolphins". Immediately after finishing his studies, in 2014, he joined the Azov regiment. At that time, Vasyl was 18 years old. He participated in the Shyrokyne operation, battles in Marinka, and the defense of the Svitlodarsk Bulge. He started as an infantryman, but constantly developed and improved his skills, always saying that he strives to be a strong combat unit in his unit. After a few years, he moved to intelligence. This was his goal. "To get into intelligence, you had to go through a difficult selection process. I remember, on the last day of the selection, he came home very tired, but so happy. He achieved his goal and got into the desired unit," recalls his wife, Anastasia Kopan. Vasyl and his future wife met at the end of 2014, when she was volunteering at a hospital in Mariupol, where Vasyl was being treated. The couple began communicating and dating. In 2019, Vasyl and Anastasia officially got married. And a year later, the couple had a son. "Vasya was sincere, always spoke directly and never deceived. He was a purposeful person. A true perfectionist, if he took on a task, he saw it through to the end and tried to do everything perfectly. He was a very caring father, kind, loyal, and loved to spoil his son," says the defender's wife. A few days before the full-scale invasion, Vasyl evacuated his family from Mariupol, and then returned to defend his hometown. After the death of the previous commander, he took command of the Azov special forces group. He went through heavy battles for Mariupol, a breakthrough to the Azovstal plant. Under his command, deep reconnaissance raids, sabotage in the deep rear of the enemy, and complex special operations were carried out. On May 20, 2022, on the order of the Commander-in-Chief, he surrendered with his comrades-in-arms. On September 21, 2022, a prisoner exchange took place, and Vasyl returned to Ukraine. While undergoing rehabilitation, he actively participated in the development of the unit. He officially returned to the ranks in January 2023. He became the commander of the reconnaissance company of the 12th Special Purpose Brigade "Azov". He took part in counteroffensive actions in the Orikhiv direction, in defensive and offensive actions in the Serebryanske forestry. Over the years of dedicated service, Vasyl Kopan was awarded many awards, including the Order of Courage III degree, the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky III degree, and the Silver Cross badge. Vasyl was bid farewell on September 13, 2024, at the Kyiv crematorium. The warrior is survived by his wife, son, parents, and sister.