On October 18, 2023, Kryvyi Rih bid farewell to its Hero — Denys Kupinskyi, who voluntarily took up arms to defend Ukraine immediately after completing his mandatory military service. He was killed in battle on October 11, 2023, near Avdiivka in Donetsk Oblast, just a month shy of his 23rd birthday.
Denys was not only a courageous warrior but also a gifted athlete. He trained in tumbling at Kryvyi Rih’s Youth Sports School No. 1, earning victories and podium finishes in regional and national competitions and attaining the title of Master of Sport. The endurance and willpower he developed through sports served him well on the battlefield. His comrades recall how Denys, with his first shot from a grenade launcher, struck his target—he was precise, determined, and fearless.
After graduating from the Polytechnic Vocational College of KNU, where he studied to become a locomotive assistant, Denys completed his compulsory military service. Yet when the enemy launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, he could not stand aside. By March, the young man had already joined the front lines, serving as a rifleman and assistant grenade launcher operator in the 129th Territorial Defense Brigade. His combat skills, resilience, and unwavering energy became an inspiration to his fellow soldiers.
Denys will forever be remembered by his friends as a cheerful, kind-hearted, and devoted person. “You could always rely on him. He never backed down from challenges—he kept moving forward,” recall those who fought alongside him.
Posthumously, Denys Kupinskyi was awarded the III-degree “For Merit to the City” badge and the “Pride of Dovhyntsi District” honor.
He is survived by his parents and sister.
Eternal glory to the Hero!