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Dmytro Kotsiubailo Дмитро Коцюбайло | |
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| Nickname(s) | Da Vinci |
| Born | (1995-11-01)1 November 1995 Zadnistrianske,Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, Ukraine |
| Died | 7 March 2023(2023-03-07) (aged 27) Bakhmut,Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine |
| Allegiance | Ukrainian Armed Forces |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Commands | 1st Mechanized Battalion |
| Battles / wars | |
| Awards |   _ribbon_bar.svg) |
Dmytro Ivanovych "Da Vinci" Kotsiubailo (Ukrainian:Дмитро Іванович "Да Вінчі" Коцюбайло; 1 November 1995 – 7 March 2023) was a Ukrainian volunteer, soldier,lieutenant, a commander of the1st Mechanized Battalion of theArmed Forces of Ukraine. He was a participant in theRusso-Ukrainian War. Kotsiubailo was the youngest battalion commander in the history of theUkrainian Army. He served as a leader of the right-wingRight Sector movement.[1][2]
In December 2021 PresidentVolodymyr Zelenskyy awarded Kotsiubailo theHero of Ukraine Ukraine decoration, the country's highest honour.[3] In 2022, he was included in the30 under 30: Faces of the Future rating byForbes.[4] In March 2023, he was killed at theBattle of Bakhmut.
Dmytro Kotsiubailo was born on 1 November 1995 in the village ofZadnistrianske, now Burshtyn community,Ivano-Frankivsk Raion,Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, Ukraine. He graduated from Bovshivka Secondary School and Ivano-Frankivsk Art Lyceum.
He was an active participant in the 2014Revolution of Dignity. He fought in theRusso-Ukrainian War, as a platoon commander of volunteers in 2014, and as a company commander in 2015. In 2014, he was wounded inPisky,Donetsk Oblast, and returned to the front after recovery. On 17 March 2016, he had served as a captain of an ultra-nationalist volunteer battalion known as the “Right Sector" and led the 1st Mechanized Battalion "Da Vinci Wolves", but never joined theArmed Forces of Ukraine.[5][dubious –discuss]
On 7 March 2023, Kotsiubailo was killed. PresidentVolodymyr Zelenskyy said in his video address: "Today, 'Da Vinci', a Hero of Ukraine, a volunteer, a man-symbol, a man of courage, Dmytro Kotsiubailo, was killed in action. A fighter of the 67th separate mechanized brigade, a commander. He died inthe battle near Bakhmut, in the battle for Ukraine".[6] Dmytro was buried atAskold's Grave.[7]
On 20 December 2023 theDnipro City Council renamed a part ofDnipro's central avenueDmytro Kotsiubailo Avenue [uk;ru;de] in honor of Kotsiubailo.[8]
On 18 January 2024 theKyiv City Council renamed a square inKyiv'sPecherskyi District in his honor.[9]
On 20 May 2024 thePoltava city council renamed a street in its city in honour of Kotsiubailo.[10]
