Zelensky and Finnish PM Attend Funeral for Prominent Ukrainian War Hero in Kyiv

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and the prime minister of Finland Sanna Marin attended a memorial service for a commander of the Da Vinci Wolves special unit, Dmytro Kotsyubailo, in Kyiv on Friday, March 10.

Suspilne News reported several hundred people attended the service in St Michael’s Golden-Domed Cathedral for Kotsyubailo, who had the call sign “Da Vinci.” The outlet released footage showing Zelensky and Marin, who was visiting Ukraine for talks, at the service.

The Ukrainian president’s office said Kotsyubailo died age 27 near Bakhmut on March 7.

Zelensky presented the mother of the fallen serviceman, Oksana Kotsyubailo, with the Cross of Combat Merit, which her son was awarded posthumously for “outstanding personal merits in the defense of the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, selfless service to the Ukrainian people, and loyalty to the military oath,” the president’s office said.

Kotsyubailo was one of the youngest “Heroes of Ukraine,” receiving the title in 2021, according to the Kyiv Post. He defended Ukraine in 2014, when he was 18 years old. In 2015, he became a company commander.

Suspilne News reported a farewell ceremony was held in Independence Square after the service. Credit: Suspilne News via Storyful

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