On May 8, 2023, while carrying out a combat mission on the Donetsk front, soldier of the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade “Azov,” Daniil Filipchuk (call sign “Boxik”), was killed. He was only 18 years old. Sustaining a fatal shrapnel wound, he gave his life for Ukraine. Just a month later, on June 2, he would have turned 19.
Daniil was born and raised in the city of Kamianske, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. From an early age, he was passionate about sports and became the Dnipropetrovsk regional champion in free-fight. His devotion to his country and his desire to live in a free Ukraine shaped his path. With the outbreak of the full-scale war, he eagerly awaited adulthood to join the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He prepared both physically and mentally, and upon turning 18, he was selected to join “Azov” and underwent training in the United Kingdom. In January 2023, he signed a contract and became a soldier of the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
His combat journey took him through the fiercest battlegrounds. Daniil fought in the intense battles for Bakhmut, proving himself a courageous warrior, loyal to his oath and his comrades. “He was a true patriot who loved his country above all else. At just 18, he had grand plans for the future—plans that fate did not allow him to fulfill. He gave his life so that we could live in a free Ukraine,” his friends and fellow soldiers recall.
In his hometown of Kamianske, Daniil was laid to rest. His death is an irreparable loss for his mother, his young sister, his family, friends, and brothers-in-arms.
A petition has appeared on the website of the President of Ukraine, calling for Daniil Filipchuk to be awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine posthumously. “He fought the enemy until his last breath, until his life was cut short,” the appeal reads.
His sacrifice will forever remain in the memory of grateful Ukrainians. Eternal glory and light be to the Hero.