He returned to Ukraine from abroad and took up arms to defend it. Under Bakhmut, weightlifter Denys Labunskyi tragically lost his life.
Born on October 29, 1993, in Vinnytsia, he showed an early interest in sports. He tried various disciplines, but ultimately chose weightlifting. His mother found it difficult to watch her son lift enormous weights, but before every competition, she always wished him good luck and rejoiced when he triumphantly raised the barbell above his head.
One of Denys’s dreams was to become a soldier, particularly a paratrooper. And he made that dream come true. He served in the 95th Separate Airborne Assault Brigade. After returning from military service, he met Tetiana, who would become his future wife. Together, they spent eight years, three of which as a married couple. They worked and lived abroad, built plans for the future, and dreamed of having children. Sadly, war intervened in their lives.
When Russia launched its full-scale invasion, Denys immediately decided to return to Ukraine. His wife recalls that no one could persuade him to stay—neither she, nor his mother, nor friends. He said he had to start with himself. Without hesitation, he went to protect Ukraine, its future, and the generations to come. He fought as a machine gunner in the Third Separate Assault Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, participating in battles in Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Donetsk regions.
Denys’s family never saw fear in his eyes. He always assured them that everything was fine, even though he was in the heart of the inferno. But when asked if he regretted going to war, he answered without hesitation: “No.” On November 24, 2022, while covering his comrades, Denys Labunskyi was mortally wounded in the battle near Bakhmut…