Yaroslav Yu. Khybovskyi (Taison)

Sergeant Yaroslav Khibovskyi was killed on December 5, 2022 near the village of Netailove in the Donetsk region. During the enemy's assault actions, he received fatal injuries. On December 28, the defender would have turned 24 years old. Yaroslav was born in the village of Mykolaivka, Vinnytsia region. In 2016, he graduated from school and entered the Bratslavsky Agrarian College. Then he stuwas killed at the Uman Pedagogical University in the correspondence form. He worked in Kyiv, later in Vinnytsia, and at the same time was engaged in his favorite activity - powerlifting, which he got involved in as early as the 5th grade at the Pishchanska sports school. Thanks to the coach and perseverance, he achieved great success, becoming a Master of Sports of Ukraine. At the age of 18, he performed as part of the national team. Weighing 74 kg, he squatted with a 210 kg barbell, in the bench press he showed a result of 165 kg, and in the deadlift - 225 kg. In the army, he was no less skilled as a warrior than as an athlete. Even during the war, he trained whenever possible and involved other guys. In May 2019, Yaroslav signed a contract for service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He was a participant in combat operations in the area of the Joint Forces Operation. From the first days of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, he stood up to defend his country as part of the 9th battalion of the 59th separate motorized infantry brigade named after Yakov Handziuk. He was a sniper, scout, assault trooper, and could shoot many types of weapons. After receiving his first wound in the summer of 2022, he had to undergo 2 months of rehabilitation, but returned to the front after just 30 days. 1.5 months before his death, he received shrapnel wounds to his leg and face. He had the right to recover, but returned to the front with an unhealed wound on his chin. He said: "How can I drink water at a resort or go for a massage when my comrades-in-arms are dying?". During his service, the soldier was awarded the medals "For Exemplary Military Service" of the III degree, "For Military Service to Ukraine" and the Order of Courage of the III degree. "Yarik was always cheerful, positive, a reliable friend, helped everyone, loved life. He never complained about anything, always said everything was fine. He did not leave his comrades-in-arms on the battlefield, he helped his brothers-in-arms. He had many plans for the future, he wanted his own house and many children. He loved and respected his mother very much, supported her, they were like one." - said his cousin Vitalina Ivaniuk. The athlete was buried in his native village. He is survived by his mother Tetiana, sister Krystyna, other relatives, friends and comrades-in-arms.