War Heroes
Dmytro Babych (28 December 1997 – 7 June 2023)
Dmytro Viktorovych Babych, a native of Sumy Oblast, graduated from the Department of Meteorology and Climatology in 2021. From the first days of Russia’s full-scale invasion, he volunteered to defend Ukraine. Private Babych served as a gunner in the 2nd assault squad of an assault battalion. He fought with courage, set an example for his comrades, looked after his fellow soldiers, and helped mobilize volunteer support for his unit.
He was killed in action on 7 June 2023 near Bakhmut, Donetsk Oblast.
Vsevolod Hrabar (15 August 1990 – 9 May 2023)
Vsevolod Yevhenovych Hrabar, a 2012 graduate of the Department of Geodesy and Cartography, was a First Lieutenant and company commander of a mechanized company in a mechanized battalion (military unit A4699) of the Separate Assault Brigade “Magura.”
He served for eight years in the Patrol Police, including four years in the TOR special unit, and took part in the Anti-Terrorist Operation / Joint Forces Operation in 2019 and 2021. He met the full-scale invasion while serving in the National Police; however, driven by patriotism and a determination to secure victory, he transferred to the Armed Forces of Ukraine in autumn 2022.
In 2022, he completed training at the 184th Tactical Medicine Training Center of the All-Ukrainian Resuscitation Council under the TCCC protocol (Combat Medic Course level). He was proficient with modern small arms, including the M4 carbine, Beretta pistol, grenade launcher, and various domestically produced weapons. He also underwent training in Germany at the Bradley Fighting Vehicle Academy (USA), where he mastered the operation of Bradley IFVs, MRAP, and MaxxPro armored vehicles.
At the front, he served with the 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade “Magura” of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He was a responsible, exemplary, and highly competent commander and comrade, earning the respect of those who served with him. He dreamed of liberating his native Crimea and hoped to be among the first to return home to Sevastopol.
First Lieutenant Hrabar was killed in action on 9 May 2023 while carrying out a combat mission on the Zaporizhzhia axis.
Yurii Derdiuk (29 January 1977 – 18 March 2023)
Yurii Vasylovych Derdiuk worked at the “Yasynia” field training base of the Faculty of Geography.
On 4 April 2022, he was mobilized into the Armed Forces of Ukraine and served as a rifleman-medic in the 2nd mechanized squad, 3rd mechanized platoon, 2nd mechanized company of a mechanized battalion (military unit A1302). Yurii Derdiuk was killed in action in Bakhmut on 18 March 2023 while defending Ukraine from Russian occupying forces.
By Presidential Decree of 14 June 2023, Yurii Vasylovych Derdiuk was posthumously awarded the Order “For Courage,” 3rd Class, for personal bravery and selfless service in defending Ukraine’s state sovereignty and territorial integrity, and for his fidelity to the military oath.
Oleksii Lohinov (25 November 1999 – 8 November 2023)
Oleksii Lohinov was a 2020 graduate of the Department of Geography of Ukraine.
Since 2022, he had worked as a geography teacher at School No. 317 in Kyiv. He was also a former goaltender for the Bila Tserkva hockey club “Bilyi Bars.” Oleksii voluntarily enlisted, believing it to be his duty. From 10 August 2023, he served in military unit 3057 of the National Guard of Ukraine.
Private Lohinov was killed in action on 8 November 2023 while carrying out combat missions in the Sievierodonetsk district of Luhansk Oblast. In his final moments, he was running to assist a wounded soldier when an artillery shell detonated nearby.
Roman Polishchuk (20 April 1993 – 10 March 2023)
Roman Yuriiovych Polishchuk was a graduate of the Department of Economic and Social Geography.
He served in the 206th Territorial Defence Battalion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, part of the 241st Brigade. Roman was a Kyiv-based track and field athlete—a high jumper and multiple-time medalist—as well as an avid traveler who enjoyed active recreation.
Having voluntarily joined the defence of Ukraine from the first day of the full-scale invasion in the ranks of Kyiv’s Territorial Defence Forces, Roman diligently carried out combat missions across various sectors of the front. He took part in the liberation of Hostomel (Kyiv Oblast) and Kharkiv Oblast. He also fought in heavy combat in Kherson Oblast, where he repeatedly demonstrated courage—engaging and destroying enemy armored vehicles at close range with a grenade launcher alongside his comrades.
Roman attained the rank of Junior Sergeant and served as platoon sergeant major. In the final months of his service, he was deployed to the Bakhmut axis—the most intense sector of the front—where he was killed in action on 10 March 2023.
Oleksandr Sokorenko (12 December 1995 – 30 July 2023)
Oleksandr Oleksandrovych Sokorenko was a 2017 graduate of the Department of Regional Studies and Tourism, as well as the military training department of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv.
As a first-year student, he was an active participant in the Euromaidan protests and advocated for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and independence in 2014. Following the full-scale invasion, Oleksandr—driven by strong patriotic convictions—joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine to defend his home, his family, and his beliefs. He served in the 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade “Magura,” later attaining the rank of Lieutenant. He held the position of operations staff officer within the brigade; his unit was engaged in planning counteroffensive operations on the Melitopol axis. In service, he specialized in geospatial data analysis to support artillery planning.
Lieutenant Sokorenko was killed in action on 30 July 2023 near Orikhiv, Zaporizhzhia Oblast.
Serhii Serhiienko
It is with deep sorrow that we report that Serhii Vasylovych Serhiienko, a 1993 graduate of the Department of Geodesy and Cartography of the Faculty of Geography, was killed in action on the Kharkiv axis while defending the independence and freedom of Ukraine.
We mourn together with his family and loved ones, extend our sincere condolences, and stand with them in this time of grief.
Eternal memory and everlasting honor to the Hero.