Yurii R. Helemei (Kuzia)

Yuriy Helemei (call sign Kuzya), a machine gunner, was killed on February 5, 2023, during the defense of Bakhmut in the Donetsk region. He received fatal wounds during the shelling of the positions. The defender was 47 years old. Yuriy was from the village of Mariampil, Ivano-Frankivsk region. He studied at the Mariampil school. Later, he obtained a degree in economics from the Ternopil Commercial Institute. He worked both abroad and in Ukraine, and had a talent for working professions, being a skilled craftsman. He was interested in the history of Ukraine, loved to read books, and studied geographical maps. He was passionate about fishing. During the full-scale invasion, in May 2022, the man joined the ranks of the 34th separate rifle battalion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Together with his comrades-in-arms, he defended the Chernihiv and Donetsk regions. His comrades gave him the call sign Kuzya, as Yuriy loved cats - wherever their unit was, he always rescued and fed the animals. Yuriy's sister Olha wrote: "I was amazed by the perfection and consistency of your thinking. You adored the history of Ukraine, studied geographical maps, and were well-oriented in the area. I understood and saw that I was talking to a descendant of our common heroic grandfathers and great-grandfathers, UPA soldiers, fighters for an independent Ukraine. You fought for the observance of historical justice. For you, this was fundamental, because you are a worthy descendant of all the hero-warriors of Ukraine... Dear brother! Your native village, your relatives, your fellow villagers and countrymen met you worthily, with all honors, as they meet the Heroes of Ukraine, the warriors of peace. All your comrades-in-arms will be with you... The Lord God will always be with you... You and your comrades-in-arms of the "Step" battalion, on that bitter day, February 5, 2023, in bloody Bakhmut, held back the breakthrough along the front line at the cost of your own lives. This date will forever be etched in our memory and the memory of future generations. Your names will go down in the history of Ukraine, your names will be given to streets and cities... We always remember the Heroes of Ukraine!" The warrior was buried in his native village. At home, Yuriy was awaited by his parents, sister, and other relatives and friends. A memorial plaque in honor of the fallen hero was opened on the facade of the Mariampil school.