A surge in fighting in several hotspots in Ukraine’s Donbas over the last three weeks – from Krymske village in Luhansk Oblast to Avdiyivka and Kransohorivka cities in Donetsk Oblast – cost Ukrainian army at least 17 soldiers killed and 96 wounded, according to a Kyiv Post count based on information from the military, volunteers and local media reports.
Intense shelling was reported near Shyrokyne, 20 kilometers east of the coastal city of Mariupol and Horlivka, located some 39 kilometers northeast of the separatist stronghold of Donetsk.
Those pictured are Ukrainian soldiers known to have been killed from July 6-21:
July 6
Roman Netesa, 19, a soldier of the 58th brigade from Poltava Oblast. In February 2016, Netesa signed a contract with the army. “When he was leaving for war, he asked his parents not to cry for him. He was an optimist, always smiled and loved his younger brother. They planned to go to the seaside in August together,” Zhanna Stepanova, a friend of Netesa’s family was quoted as saying. Netesa was killed near Krymske village in Luhansk Oblast. Netesa leaves his parents, younger brother and a girlfriend.
July 9
Oleksiy Tymoshchuk, 36, a soldier of the of the 59th brigade from Vinnytsia. He signed the contract with the army in spring 2017 and went to the war zone in late May. “He was happy to be in the unit with his Vinnytsia compatriots,” Volodymyr Avdeyev, deputy commander of the 9th battalion, said. “He never worried that there’s a strong enemy on the other side.” One of the volunteers helping the battalion in which Tymoshchuk served, Vasyl Nechyporuk, first met with the soldier in June. “He was tall, like a kozak. And always asked me what’s going on in Vinnytsia, whether the fountains (one of the main city’s attractions) are working. He was a sincere young man. But the enemy didn’t observe another cease-fire,” Nechyporuk was quoted as saying to local media. He was killed by shrapnel during the shelling near Hnutovo village close to the coastal city of Mariupol. Tymoshchuk leaves a wife and three children – two sons and a daughter.
July 10
Vitaliy Babkov, 29, a soldier of the 54th brigade from Donetsk Oblast. Babkov had been defending his native Donbas since 2014. He was killed by a landmine near Stanytsia Luhanska “We lost our fellow,” Viktoriya Shynkarenko, one of the volunteers helping Ukrainian military, wrote. “We will remember him always joking and supporting his fellow soldiers.” Babkov leaves a mother and a sister.
July 12
Volodymyr Turchyn, 27, a soldier of the 128th brigade from Lviv Oblast. He signed a contract with the army in 2016. Turchyn was badly wounded when combined Russia-separatist forces opened fire on the Ukrainian army positions near Zaitsevo in Donetsk Oblast. He died later in Bakhmut city hospital. “He was never afraid of anything,” Turchyn’s fellow soldier Nazar Tlustyak was quoted as saying. “He always smiled and was ready to help.” Turchyn leaves his parents.
July 14
Ihor Kysterny, 33, a soldier of the 58th brigade from Chernihiv Oblast. He used to work for State Border Service for 10 years. In 2016, Kysterny decided to join the army and in May went to the war zone. He was killed by a sniper near Novotoshkivske village in Luhansk Oblast. Kysterny leaves a mother and a sister.
July 15
Dmytro Naumov, 34, a soldier of the 57th brigade from Kherson Oblast. Naumov volunteered to the war zone in 2014 and in two years signed a contract with the army. Naumov hit a landmine near the seaside town of Shyrokyne. His death was instant. “He was a true fighter (who spent) 3,5 years on the front lines,” Halyna Umanets, a volunteer who helps Ukrainian military, said. “It’s a big loss for Ukraine.” Naumov’s cousin Valeriy Yakovets recalls that Naumov was “always worked to achieve the best.” He leaves a wife and three children.
July 18
Zoltan Balazh, 22, a soldier of the 128th Mountain Brigade from Zakarpattya Oblast. Balazh was badly wounded near Zaitseve in Donetsk Oblast. His unit commander, Eduard, recalled that Balazh was “extremely brave and never tried to hide behind someone’s else back.” Balazh leaves a wife and a two-year-old daughter.
Volodymyr Bulichenko, 41, a soldier of the 57th brigade from Kherson Oblast. He was killed in action near Nevelske village in Donetsk Oblast. Bulichenko was a widower. He leaves his mother and two daughters.
July 19
Maksym Isayenko, 19, a soldier of the 92nd motorized brigade from Kharkiv. His military vehicle was hit while they were driving from Shakhtarsk. “Nobody pushed him to join the army, it was his choice. He was just a boy,” Lada Vvedenska, a volunteer who helps Ukrainian military wrote on her Facebook page. “There always will be such boys ready to fight and die together with those older people on the frontlines.” Isayenko leaves his parents. He was the only son in his family.
Ruslan Konyusha, 22, a soldier of the 58th brigade from Luhansk. He had joined Luhansk-1 and then Aidar volunteer battalion right after the EuroMaidan Revolution to defend his native Luhansk Oblast. Later, he signed a contract with the 58th brigade. Konyusha with his fellow soldiers hit a landmine near Novotoshkivske village in Luhansk Oblast. His death was instant.
Russian photographer and rights activist Victoria Ivleva knows Konyusha’s family. On July 21, she posted to her Facebook page, saying that “the f*cked war has killed a son of my big friend, Nadia.” “Nadia, please, forgive – it was me who killed your son. It was me who didn’t stop the war. It was me who didn’t choose a different president,” Ivleva wrote. “I was riding in a metro when I found out the news. I don’t know whether people sitting next to me knew that because of us another young man was killed. I don’t know.” Konyusha leaves his mother and brothers.
Illya Tymofiyev, 43, a soldier of the 58th brigade from Kirovohrad Oblast. Native Russian, Tymofiyev didn’t hesitate to defend Ukraine and was mobilized to the army in 2015. In summer 2017, he signed another contract with the army. Tymofiyev hit a landmine together with his fellows Ruslan Konyusha and Roman Dytynchenko. He leaves a wife and three children in a village of Pershotravenka – two daughter and one-year-old son.
July 20
Serhiy Hladky, 21, a soldier of the 128th Mountain Brigade from Poltava Oblast. Hladky had been serving in the army since July 2014. He took part in battles for the villages of Lenino, Heorhiyivka, Rodakovo in Luhansk Oblast and later he patrolled the Ukraine’s army stronghold near Stanytsya Luhanska. Hladky also took part in battles for Debaltseve and Novhorodske in Donetsk Oblast. He was killed by a sniper near Novhorodske town in Donetsk Oblast. Hladky leaves his parents and a younger brother.
Oleksandr Sen, 40, a soldier of the 92nd motorized brigade from Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. He was a former lawmaker at Verkhniodniprovsk District Council in his native town of Verkhniodniprovsk. He was killed in action near Krasnohorivka, Donetsk Oblast when combined Russia-separatists forces operating under cover of fire from mortars, artillery, tanks and rocket-propelled guns, Grad-P missile launcher tried to occupy Ukrainian positions in the area. Sen leaves a wife.
Viktor Chornobai, 34, a soldier of the 92nd brigade from Luhansk Oblast. He signed a contract with the army in the beginning of 2017. Chornobai was killed as he had been trying to rescue fellow soldier during the fighting near Krasnohorivka town in Donetsk Oblast. The assault on Krasnohorivka by Russia-backed troops cost the Ukrainian army at least three fighters killed. Chornobai leaves his parents in Luhansk Oblast.
July 21
Oleksiy Kalabishka, 41, a soldier of the 128th brigade from Zakarpattya Oblast. He volunteered to the army in 2014 and took part in battles for Luhansk that year. His brigade also defended the Ukraine’s army positions near Stanytsia Luhanska and Gorlivka. He was one of those who managed to get out of the ruins of the besieged Debaltseve in Donetsk Oblast in February 2015. Kalabishka was killed by shrapnel near the separatist-held city of Gorlivka. “He was a great man, we did everything together – shared duties, sleeping bags, and food,” Kalabishka’s fellow soldier Volodymyr Melika was quoted as saying during the mourning. “He’s a true hero.” Kalabishka leaves a wife and two children in Zakarpattya’s Mukachevo.
