Vitalii M. Babych (Bucha)

Babich Vitaliy Mykolayovych was born on October 24, 1986, in Bucha, Kyiv region, in a family of tailors. In 2003, after graduating from general education school, he joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine and chose his future profession. In 2008, Vitaliy Babich began working in the internal affairs bodies as an operative officer of the Main Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine in the Kyiv region. In 2015, he transitioned to the newly established National Police of Ukraine. He held the position of senior operative officer of the criminal police and later became the deputy head of the department. In 2021, Vitaliy passed the selection for the patrol police battalion of special purpose "Peacekeeper," which carried out combat missions in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. When the full-scale invasion of Russian troops into Ukraine began, Vitaliy Babich, along with other police officers, served in the Kyiv region. His colleague Oleksandr recalls that Vitaliy, together with his colleagues, identified collaborators who assisted Russian servicemen, acting very professionally. Vitaliy's parents were in Bucha, which was occupied at that time. He was very worried about them but never showed it. On May 15, 2022, he went to fight in Donetsk with his comrades to repel the Russian invaders. Colleagues remember that Vitaliy considered it his duty to drive the enemy from his native land and protect people from the Russian onslaught. His death was a heavy loss for the entire unit, where he was loved and respected. Vitaliy Babich died on July 19, 2022, during a hostile airstrike in Sloviansk, Donetsk region. "The guys returned from a combat mission, everyone was in high spirits because they were about to go home. A Russian missile hit the house where they were resting," sadly recounts Valentyn, a colleague of the deceased. "Vitaliy was intelligent, wise, cultured, motivated by work, and always made decisions thoughtfully. One of his life principles was helping people. Vitaliy was a true patriot of his country," recalls the battalion commander Khafiz Rafiyev. Vitaliy planned to get married, was building a house, and had many plans. His wish after returning home was to go to Transcarpathia with his family, but unfortunately, his dream did not come true. "My son had a kind heart and golden hands, always helped with everything. I had a dream to pass my business on to him," says his father Mykola Mykolayovych. "Vitaliy loved fishing, he said it was real pleasure, a soulful rest, and pleasant communication with nature. He was a wonderful son who always cared for the family, a reliable helper in any matter. Thank God for giving me such a son," recalls Vitaliy's mother Halyna Volodymyrivna. "Vitaliy was the best person; he was not only a brother to me but also a faithful friend, a support, and an advisor. We grew up together, achieved success together, rejoiced together, faced failures together; we did everything together. A brother is the closest person to me," says his brother Yuriy. "Fate gives you one like him in a lifetime. Loyal, reliable, genuine, courageous, and caring, for Vitaliy, family was the top priority. When he had days off, he always arranged romantic evenings at Kyiv Sea, and he cooked very deliciously. He always supported during difficult times, had golden hands, and built his own house, where he made two children's rooms because he dreamed of having a home filled with children's laughter," sadly recounts his fiancée Yuliya. Police major Vitaliy Babich was buried on July 22, 2022, at the cemetery in Bucha, Kyiv region. His name is inscribed on the obelisk of fallen police officers of Kyiv region.