Doing research on young people who died defending Ukrainian land is hard as each of them has so much to contribute to the future of Ukraine. I finished writing about Roman Ratushnyj and was preparing for morning Saturday class as more horrific news came from Ukraine. It is extra hard to write about my God’s Mother’s Grandson: Artemiy Dymyd, who will be forever 27. Artemko, as his Grandma, Babtsya Lesya, always called her oldest Grandson, sacrificed his life for the freedom of Ukraine. It happened early, June 18, 2022, in the Donetsk region. A russian artillery attack destroyed a hangar in which three soldiers were performing a military mission. One of them received injuries incompatible with life. It was Artemiy.

Artemiy Dymyd, great-grandson of historian Ivan Krypyakevych. Son of Fr. Mykhailo Dymyd and Ivanka Dymyd-Krypyakevych. Artemko, was an avid member of the Plast from the age of 7. There was no sport which Artemko did not try himself. He and adrenaline were inseparable words. He was fearless; his fear gene was absent. His life was a continuous adventure. He was fond of military training, parachuting, and travelling. He visited more than 50 countries.  Artem is a graduate of historical sciences at the Ukrainian Catholic University. He witnessed the events of February 20, 2014, on Institutska Street. In the spring of the same year, at the beginning of the occupation of Crimea, he went to the peninsula to strengthen pro-Ukrainian forces. After the start of hostilities in eastern Ukraine, he volunteered for AZOV. He took part in the fighting in the area of ​​Shyroke. He was later transferred to a special unit, “Harpoon.” He called PTSD post-traumatic stress development. He worked, had fun, always supported others, and was open to conversation. He even rode a motorcycle to Iraq.

He was in the United States on February 24, 2022, but left for Ukraine immediately after the invasion began. He bought a bulletproof vest and helmet in the US and put on his armour so as not to pay for extra luggage. He told the surprised flight attendant that he was from Ukraine and that he was safer with a bulletproof vest on him. At home, he collected the rest of the equipment from the time of the anti-terrorist operation, took the oath and immediately went to the front.

There are not enough words to speak and share emotions about someone you have known for two decades, thanks to stories of his Grandma  (Babtsya Lesya) and Mama (Ivanka). Artemko is bright, active, smart, patriotic and persistent. Free. Fearless. Courageous. For him, the world was big and open, and there were no obstacles …I will carry Artemko’s memories in my heart. It is very hard to accept another death of Ukraine’s future, but it is important to keep doing Artemko’s work by practicing values of social justice and service to humanity.

Eternal Memory Artemko, Pray for Ukraine from heaven.  Thinking of all Krypyakevytch-Dymyd family.

Glory to the Hero!

Artemko’s Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/kypka0/

Artemko’s interview: З ПЛАСТУ НА ВІЙНУ | Артем Димид | ПТСР #5  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgCBBxUj25A

My favourite song from Didula-Dymyd Sauerkraut making process Капусняк з Димидів та Дідул https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyicCOhL8GE

On June 9, the head of NGO “Let’s Save Protasiv Yar” and a scout of the 93rd Separate Mechanized Brigade “Kholodny Yar” Roman Ratushny was killed in a battle near Izyum (Kharkiv region). It happened a month before his 25th birthday. Roman is a well-known civic activist. From the first day of Maidan in 2013, he joined the protests and was among the students beaten by police. He was 15 at the moment. Roman was on the side of civil society, standing against corruption. He was a leader of the initiative protecting a park Protasiv Yar in Kyiv, from a real estate company. He was always on the side of Ukraine — a democratic, prosperous, European country. That is why he chose to take the gun and defend the borders from the Russian invaders. First, in the battles near Kyiv, then as an intelligence officer in Trostyanets, Sumy region. He died while performing a combat mission.

The NGO “Let’s Save Protasiv Yar” statement says: “We became an organization thanks to him. Despite this severe loss, we will continue Roman’s work, we will continue to change and develop our society, our country, we will continue to fight for a Great United Ukraine. We will definitely build a park in Protasiv Yar. A park where we will plant an oak tree to honor Roman. A park which will surely be named after Roman Ratushny. Card for donations (mother): 5168 7554 4793 7745 (Povalyaeva Svitlana Vadymivna)

Roman’s Funeral is on June 18, 2022

• 10:00, Михайлівський собор – заупокійна служба
• 12:00, Майдан Незалежності (під стелою) – прощання на Майдані
• 14:00, Байкове кладовище – поховання

Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group (KHPG) stated that “Russia has inflicted immeasurable suffering on Ukraine, and each day brings new tragic loss.  The Russian invaders who killed this young man may not have distinguished him from other Ukrainian victims, but it is surely true that Roman Ratushny represented everything that the Russian regime is trying to destroy in Ukraine.  Nataliya Gumenyuk, founder of the Public Interest Journalism Lab, is a Ukrainian author and journalist specializing in foreign affairs and conflict reporting shared in Washington Post that “Ukrainians have experienced death and destruction on a vast scale over the past three months. But the news of Ratushny’s death, which emerged days after his killing when troops recovered his body, has struck a chord. His loss confirms something that everyone had suspected: that this war is consuming the best of our people. The Russian invasion prompted many Ukrainians to volunteer for the armed forces: midcareer professionals, managers and students as well as workers and farmers. At this stage of the war, the military is trying to ensure that the best of these recruits are being sent to the front lines — the smartest, the bravest and those with combat experience”.

Tributes to Ratushny have poured in on Let’s Save Protasiv Yar’s Facebook page.

“My heart is broken. Such an outstanding human being,” posted one user. “I had the privilege to meet him and the brave fighters of Protasiv Yar when we documented the battle of Kyiv. I thought to myself — if Roma and these promising guys are the future of Ukraine — this country is in good hands.”

Another Facebook user said: “There are no words or strength to accept the hell in which Ukraine lives [where it] loses its best sons and daughters.

“[This] incredible, bright man went beyond the horizon not because his time had come but because he was defending his land and the people in it,” they added. More social media tributes for Roman can be found here: https://ua.korrespondent.net/ukraine/politics/4486105-rf-vbyvaie-tsvit-natsii-sotsmerezhi-pro-smert-ratushnoho and here: https://lb.ua/society/2022/06/15/520104_kiyanin_z_protasovogo_yaru_pamyati.html

Roman’s girlfriend’s testimony can be read in Ukrainian: https://kyiv.media/news/divchyna-z-yakoyu-zustrichavsya-ratushnyj-rozpovila-pro-znajomstvo-z-nym-ta-chomu-vin-najkrashhyj-portret-pokolinnya

To watch how Kyiv says Vichnaya Pamyat’ to Roman, click here. The article about the celebration of Roman’s life can be found using the following hyperlink in Ukrainian: https://zaborona.com/roman-ratushnyj-v-kyyevi-provely-v-ostannyu-put-geroya/

Roman’s wiki page: https://uk.wikipedia.org/wiki/%D0%A0%D0%B0%D1%82%D1%83%D1%88%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%B9_%D0%A0%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%B0%D0%BD_%D0%A2%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%81%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B8%D1%87

Interviews with Roman are possible to watch in Ukrainian on the following links:

Roman’s Youtube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCB-1Cgjgn_xw1-g9m2GF6jQ

💥 Ми звільнили Романа Ратушного!

Роман Ратушний про Протасів Яр, Євромайдан і сучасні протести

ПРО «СОВОК», ПОЗОВ ПРОТИ ЗАСТУПНИКА МВС І КОМУ ВИГІДНІ СВАРКИ АКТИВІСТІВ / Роман Ратушний — Чесно

🕯️ Повнометражне інтерв’ю вдома в Романа Ратушного. Квітень 2021

Хто такий Роман Ратушний? Протистояння владі, участь у виборах та активізм. Велика розмова https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8KSjL9devY