A warrior and an athlete, Lviv native Mykola Zabavchuk, was killed in battle against the Russian occupiers. He rose to defend his homeland at just twenty-five years old and gave his life for Ukraine.
From childhood, Mykola followed a path of strength and endurance. At the age of five, he began training in gymnastics, later turning to aikido, kickboxing, and power sports. He was a member of the Triumph Martial Arts Gym, where he stood out for his persistence and unwavering character.
A versatile athlete, he could take a hit and never gave up. His sporting record is striking: candidate for Master of Sports in powerlifting and kickboxing, junior kickboxing champion of Ukraine, champion of the Lviv region, winner of the Halychyna Cup in kickboxing, and finalist of the Ukrainian Championship.
Mykola studied at Lviv Lyceum No. 21 and graduated from the National University “Lviv Polytechnic.” He worked as an engineer at a shooting range, was interested in IT, loved football, and faithfully supported Lviv’s Karpaty team.
From the very first days of the full-scale invasion, Mykola made a conscious choice: he volunteered to join the 125th Separate Brigade of Territorial Defense. Though he had never served in the army before, he did not hesitate for a moment. As his mother, Larysa Zabavchuk, recalls: “He enlisted, as many young men did then. But he did not wait for a call. He came and said: ‘Mom, I am already in the territorial defense. I will go. Don’t worry. I will fight until the end.’”
At the front, Mykola became a reconnaissance scout. After completing training in the summer of 2022, he was sent to Donetsk region. On July 21, during an artillery strike near Kramatorsk, he was killed together with two of his comrades. Their platoon commander later said: “Thanks to their self-sacrifice, dozens of other soldiers were saved. After that shelling, everyone else was evacuated. In a way, they shielded others with their own lives.”
For his heroism and bravery on the battlefield, Mykola Zabavchuk was posthumously awarded the Order “For Courage,” Third Class.
On July 26, 2022, he was laid to rest at the Lychakiv Cemetery, in the Field of Honorary Burials. There, among the Heroes, rests an athlete and warrior who gave the most precious gift—his life—for the freedom and future of Ukraine.
Glory to the Defender. Rest in peace.