Sasha Kondrashov
I first learned about Iryna Tsybukh through a poignant YouTube video where Ukrainian singer Marina Krut and paramedic Iryna Tsybukh shared the song using Lesya Ukrainka poem Contra Spem Spero in the midst of the wheatfields of Donetsk. In the video, two brave women stood together, united by their love for Ukraine and their unwavering commitment to defending its freedom. Now, Iryna has tragically passed into the spiritual world, leaving us with the profound sadness of a life cut short, but also with the enduring inspiration of a true hero.
Iryna Tsybukh, a courageous paramedic, journalist, and shining example of Ukrainian resilience, sacrificed her life for the cause of freedom on May 29, 2024. She was just 25 years old, on the cusp of celebrating her 26th birthday when a russian attack during her rotation on the Kharkiv front claimed her life. Though her time with us was far too brief, Iryna lived a life filled with purpose, driven by an unwavering love for her homeland and an unshakable commitment to seeing it free from the chains of oppression.
From a young age, Iryna dedicated herself to serving the people of Ukraine. While studying at Lviv Polytechnic National University and working as a journalist for Public Television, she consistently stood at the forefront of her country’s struggles, never shying away from the pain and suffering endured by her fellow citizens. When war broke out in 2014, Iryna was in Donbas, documenting the stories of children living on the frontlines. In a testament to her boundless courage, she traded her camera for a weapon and joined the ranks of the “Hospitallers” battalion to defend her beloved Ukraine.
As a paramedic, Iryna fearlessly put her own life on the line countless times to save wounded soldiers. Her unwavering belief in the righteousness of Ukraine’s fight for freedom served as a guiding light, illuminating even the darkest of moments. In her own words, Iryna once said, “I am the same young girl as anyone in France or Spain. We differ only in that there is a totalitarian regime on our border that has attacked a country I love very much… And that is why I defend my country, and why I am ready to die to have freedom in my country.”
These powerful words encapsulate the essence of who Iryna was – a true patriot who placed the liberty and dignity of her nation above all else. She willingly chose a path of sacrifice, setting aside personal dreams and aspirations for the greater good. “I want children. I want a house. I want to plant tomatoes… but ending the war is most important,” Iryna once confided, revealing the depth of her commitment to her country.
Iryna’s life and legacy bring to mind the timeless words of Lesya Ukrainka in her poem “Contra Spem Spero”:
“I’ll climb the steep and stony mountain, Bearing the heavy stone I’ll go, And carrying this dreadful burden, I shall be singing all the time.”
Just like the poem’s heroine, Iryna carried the weight of her country’s struggles on her shoulders, never losing hope or her capacity for joy, even in the face of unimaginable adversity. She fulfilled her duty to her last breath, fiercely protecting the innocent and bringing Ukraine closer to the victory she so deeply believed in.
Though her life was tragically cut short by russian aggressors amidst the golden wheatfields of the Kharkiv region, Iryna Tsybukh will forever remain a guardian angel for Ukraine – a symbol of the indomitable spirit that flows through the veins of its people. In making the ultimate sacrifice, she has sown the seeds of hope for a free and prosperous future that her fellow Ukrainians will one day reap.
Heroes like Iryna never truly die; they live on in the hearts of those they touched, igniting the flames of courage and selflessness that will burn for generations to come. As we mourn her loss and celebrate her life, we must also carry forward her legacy – a vision of a free, European Ukraine, for which she so willingly laid down her life.
Rest in peace, Iryna Tsybukh, Hero of Ukraine. May your soul find eternal comfort in the heavenly fields of wheat, and may your memory be forever cherished by a grateful nation.
Вічная пам’ять, Ірино. Герої не вмирають!
Link to Youtube video: Krutь та Ірина Цибух – Contra spem spero! (Krut and Iryna Tsybukh)