A Veteran’s Final Stand: Remembering Ihor Hrytsiv, 59
Ihor Hrytsiv, a 59-year-old Ukrainian volunteer nicknamed “Grandpa,” died defending Mykolaiv Oblast in September 2022. DNA analysis confirmed his identity in October 2023, allowing his family in Ivano-Frankivsk to lay him to rest with full honors.
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A Veteran’s Final Stand: Remembering Ihor Hrytsiv, 59
YEREL GÜNDEM / IVANO-FRANKIVSK, UKRAINE
Roots in Two Regions
Born in Ukraine’s Mykolaiv region, Ihor Zynoviyovych Hrytsiv later settled in the foothill village of Pidpechery, Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, before marrying and moving to the nearby city of Dolyna. Trained as a third-class tractor operator at Kutske Vocational School №6, he spent four decades mastering a wide range of trades—from textile-mill operator and transport clerk to concrete-plant repairman, plumber, and finally a highly respected construction mason.
From Civilian Craftsman to Soldier Once More
Hrytsiv first wore a uniform during his compulsory service in 1981-83. When Russia launched its full-scale invasion on 24 February 2022, he was nearly sixty. Yet on 12 March he volunteered for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, joining the 57th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade named after Koshovyi Otaman Kostiantyn Hordiienko. Assigned to the brigade’s antitank artillery battalion, he operated a guided-missile simulator, helping younger recruits master the Javelin-class systems that would become vital on the southern front.
“Who But Me Will Shield My Family?”
Relatives say age never dimmed his sense of duty. Niece and god-daughter Snizhana Falchuk recalls his parting words: Who, if not I, will protect my family? Friends knew him as a patient mentor who taught neighbors basic self-defense and refused payment for repair jobs. His call sign, Did—Ukrainian for Grandpa—spoke to the respect younger soldiers had for the seasoned newcomer in their ranks.
The Last Mission Near Bezymenne
On 7 September 2022 Hrytsiv’s unit came under intense artillery fire near the village of Bezymenne, Mykolaiv Oblast. Radio contact broke off; he was listed missing in action. For thirteen months his family held out hope. Only on 30 October 2023 did DNA analysis confirm the identity of a fallen soldier recovered in the sector. The news ended a long vigil, replacing uncertainty with grief and the solemn rituals of farewell.
A Village’s Farewell and Enduring Legacy
Hrytsiv was laid to rest in Pidpechery, where mourners lined the narrow lanes with candles and embroidered towels. He is survived by his 85-year-old mother Anastasiya, sister Iryna, wife Mariya, daughters Zoryana and Antonina, sons-in-law, grandchildren Ihor and Sofiia, and his devoted niece Snizhana. Local officials plan a memorial plaque at the village school, while fellow builders have offered to complete a playground he had begun renovating before the war.
Ihor Hrytsiv’s story is a reminder that Ukraine’s defense rests not only on professional soldiers but also on citizens who exchange trowels for rifles when history demands. His life’s arc—from farmland to factory floor, from workshop to frontline—embodies the resilience of a nation determined to decide its own future.
