Yaroslav Ye. Hypyk (Mar)

The 28-year-old captain, Yaroslav Hypyk (call sign Mar), was killed in action in the morning of March 19, 2022. The day before, he received numerous shrapnel wounds during the battle for the city of Mariupol, Donetsk region. He was evacuated to the Illich Iron and Steel Works and then to Mariupol City Hospital No. 1. Later, his body was taken away by the occupiers. His further fate is unknown. Yaroslav was born in the city of Kharkiv. In 2014, he graduated from the National Academy of the National Guard of Ukraine. After that, he served in Kyiv in unit 3030. At the end of the summer of 2014, as part of a combined unit, he voluntarily went to the area of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO), and after returning, he transferred to "Azov" and served in Mariupol from January 2015. Since February 24, 2022, the man, together with his comrades, defended Mariupol from Russian occupiers. He was the commander of the sniper squad of the sniper group of the special purpose unit of the National Guard of Ukraine "Azov." During his service, the officer was awarded many awards, including the "Cossack Cross" of the II and III degrees, "For the Defense of Mariupol," "Independence of Ukraine" of the III degree, "Defender of Mariupol," "For Participation in the Anti-Terrorist Operation," the Certificate of Honor of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, and the Order "For Courage" of the III degree (posthumously). "Yaroslav was an incredible man and father for our daughter. He adored cats, which was passed on to our daughter, Ariana. His love for Ukraine was from an early age, even before starting at the academy, he attended military camps. Yaroslav was a warrior by nature, he always wanted to be in the center of the fighting. To this day, our daughter takes his photo and watches cartoons with him or shows him her drawings of cats. I very much hope that one day we will be able to bury him," said the officer's wife, Victoria. The hero is survived by his wife, daughter, other relatives, friends, and comrades.