While trying to leave his village in Kyiv region, Ukrainian motoball player Yevhen Babanov was ruthlessly killed by Russian occupiers together with his wife.
He was born in the village of Krestivka, Donetsk region. In 2014, due to the Russian offensive, he had to move – first to Kharkiv, then to Kyiv. Yevhen loved sports and played motoball. He played for his hometown team “Antratsyt”, “Mechanic” from Kamianets-Podilskyi and “Vostok” from Voznesensk.
Yevhenia’s cousin said that in his youth, brother had problems with drug addiction, but he overcame them. The church, where he met his future wife, played an important role in his struggle for life. By his own example, Yevhen showed that it is possible to change and improve your life. He even founded a rehabilitation center for people with addictions.
After the start of the full-scale Russian invasion, Kyiv region became a witness of all the cruelty and cynicism of the occupiers. Together with his wife Snizhana, Yevhen Babanov decided to evacuate from the village of Demydiv on February 25, 2022. There were 4 other people in the car besides them. They drove into Hostomel when a Russian soldier jumped out onto the road in front of them and waved for them to turn around. Yevhen started to quickly turn around and drive away when the Russian inhumans opened fire on them. His wife’s aunt Adelina, who was in the car with them, called her husband and told him that they were being shot at, but the connection was cut off… Only three people, who just trying to escape, survived: Timur, Adelina’s son, and Lesya Bondarenko and her son. The wounded girl pulled children out of the burning car and fled through the forest. Only after the liberation of Kyiv region by Ukrainian military 33-years-old Yevgeniy, Snizhana and Adelina were buried. The car was almost unrecognizable, as were the bodies.