Dmytro Kotsiubailo Explained

Dmytro Kotsiubailo
Nickname:Da Vinci
Birth Date:1 November 1995
Birth Place:Zadnistrianske, Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, Ukraine
Death Place:Bakhmut, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine
Allegiance:Ukrainian Armed Forces
Rank:Lieutenant
Commands:1st Mechanized Battalion
Battles:
Awards:

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 the 1st Mechanized Battalion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He was a participant in the Russo-Ukrainian War. Kotsiubailo was the youngest battalion commander in the history of the Ukrainian Army. He served as a leader of the right-wing Right Sector movement.[1] [2]

In December 2021 President Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarded Kotsiubailo the Hero of Ukraine Ukraine decoration, the country's highest honour.[3] In 2022, he was included in the 30 under 30: Faces of the Future rating by Forbes.[4]

Early life

Dmytro Kotsiubailo was born on 1 November 1995 in the village of Zadnistrianske, now Burshtyn community, Ivano-Frankivsk Raion, Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, Ukraine. He graduated from Bovshivka Secondary School and Ivano-Frankivsk Art Lyceum.

Ukrainian resistance

He was an active participant in the 2014 Revolution of Dignity. He fought in the Russo-Ukrainian War, as a platoon commander of volunteers in 2014, and as a company commander in 2015. In 2014, he was wounded in Pisky, 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 the Armed Forces of Ukraine.[5]

Death and legacy

On 7 March 2023, Kotsiubailo was killed. President Volodymyr 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 in the battle near Bakhmut, in the battle for Ukraine".[6] Dmytro was buried at Askold's Grave.[7]

On 20 December 2023 the Dnipro City Council renamed a part of Dnipro's central avenue in honor of Kotsiubailo.[8]

On 18 January 2024 the Kyiv City Council renamed a square in Kyiv's Pecherskyi District in his honor.[9]

On 20 May 2024 the Poltava city council renamed a street in its city in honour of Kotsiubailo.[10]

Awards

Military ranks

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2023-03-10 . Zelenskiy leads tributes to revered Ukrainian fighter killed in Bakhmut . en . Reuters . 2023-03-11.
  2. Web site: 2023-03-09 . Death of Ukrainian commander 'Da Vinci' gives Russia a propaganda win . 2023-03-12 . The Independent . en.
  3. https://tsn.ua/exclusive/geroy-ukrayini-dobrovolec-da-vinchi-vpershe-zustrichaye-noviy-rik-ne-na-fronti-1944760.html Герой України доброволець «Да Вінчі» вперше зустрічає Новий рік не на фронті
  4. Web site: 30 до 30: обличчя майбутнього. forbes.ua. 22 August 2022 .
  5. Web site: Bushard . Brian . 'Hero Of Ukraine' Dies In Battle As Russian Advance Continues . 2023-03-12 . Forbes . en.
  6. Web site: На Донбасі загинув Герой України, легендарний доброволець Дмитро Коцюбайло (Да Вінчі), - Зеленський."ВIДЕО. censor.net. 7 March 2023. uk.
  7. Web site: 2023-03-10 . У Києві попрощалися з легендарним Героєм України "Да Вінчі": фото та відео з Майдану . 2023-07-14 . 24 Канал . uk.
  8. Web site: Stas Rudenko. A square in honor of Dmytro "Da Vinci" Kotsyubail appeared in Dnipro. 20 December 2023. 21 December 2023. Ukrainian. dp.informator.ua.
  9. Web site: Mykhailo Horyn and Mykola Rudenko streets will appear in Kyiv. 18 January 2024. 18 January 2024. Ukrainian. Istorychna Pravda.
  10. News: In Zaporizhzhia, a street was renamed in honor of teenage partisans who were killed by the occupiers in Berdyansk. 22 May 2024. Istorychna Pravda. 21 May 2024. Ukrainian.
  11. Decree of the President of Ukraine from 30 November 2021 year № 608/2021 «Про присвоєння Д.Коцюбайлу звання Герой України»
  12. Decree of the President of Ukraine from 9 March 2023 year № 142/2023 «Про нагородження Д.Коцюбайла відзнакою Президента України "Хрест бойових заслуг"»
  13. Decree of the President of Ukraine from 23 August 2023 year № 499/2023 «Про нагородження відзнакою Президента України «Національна легенда України»» (in Ukrainian)
  14. // TSN.ua. — 2021. — 1 December.
  15. Волошин, Н. Герой України Дмитро Коцюбайло — легендарний "Да Вінчі", отримав первинне офіцерське звання «молодший лейтенант, АрміяInform, 23.08.2022.