Azov Fighter Oleksandr Hryanyk, known by his call sign “Hryan,” a devoted fan of Dynamo Kyiv and an active participant in the Dynamo fan movement, died on May 8, 2022, while defending Mariupol.
Born on January 8, 1994, in Kyiv, Oleksandr grew up in the Obolon district and graduated from Gymnasium No. 32 “Uspikh.” Football captivated him from an early age, leading him to play in various youth tournaments and later join Dynamo’s fan movement. During Ukraine’s Revolution of Dignity, he stood alongside the “ultras” in defense of the country’s freedom and future.
After the pro-Russian government was overthrown, war broke out in eastern Ukraine. Many Dynamo fans took up arms to defend the nation’s independence, and Oleksandr joined them in 2016 after graduating from the Kyiv National Economic University, where he studied international economics and management. Following basic training and the rigorous Spartan endurance test, Hryanyk became an infantryman and machine gunner in the Azov Regiment, aspiring to master drone piloting. Later, he served in the sniper unit “Znaky.”
In January 2022, Oleksandr decided to transition to civilian life, leaving military service to focus on photography. However, when Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February, he returned to the battlefield. Initially, he defended his native Kyiv region, fighting in Bucha, Irpin, and Hostomel. By late March, he volunteered to fly into besieged Mariupol to join his Azov comrades in the city’s defense.
On his first day in Mariupol, Hryanyk was wounded by shrapnel from a tank shell that struck his thigh and arm. Refusing hospitalization, he stayed with his unit to defend the city. By then, Ukrainian forces were entrenched at the Azovstal steel plant, enduring relentless airstrikes and bombardments. On May 8, 2022, a deadly shell struck the bunker where Oleksandr’s group was stationed, killing him. He was just 28 years old.
The memory of Oleksandr Hryanyk lives on in the hearts of his family and friends. His mother, Olga, reflects: “He is gone, but we continue doing things for him. It’s like caring for a living child, but now we preserve his memory. This keeps us from succumbing to grief because when you stop, the pain overwhelms you.”
Every six months, a futsal tournament is held in Oleksandr’s honor—the Oleksandr Hryanyk Memorial Cup. Teams of his school and university friends, fellow Dynamo fans, and Azov comrades participate, including “Ultras-DK,” “G-Unit,” “Azov,” and others.