Dmytro Kotsiubailo (nickname Da Vinci (Ukrainian: Да Вінчі); 1 November 1995 — 7 March 2023) was a Ukrainian volunteer, soldier, junior lieutenant, a commander of the 1st Mechanized Battalion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He was a participant in the Russo-Ukrainian War.

He is a Hero of Ukraine (2021). He was a member of the Leadership of the Right Sector (2020—2023).

Kotsiubailo was the youngest battalion commander in the history of the Ukrainian Army.

Kotsiubailo was the first volunteer to be awarded the title Hero of Ukraine for life. 

In 2022 he was included in the 30 under 30: Faces of the Future rating by Forbes.

Early life

Dmytro Kotsiubailo was born on November 1, 1995 in the village of Zadnistrianske, now Burshtyn community, Ivano-Frankivsk Raion, Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, Ukraine.

He graduated from Bovshivka Secondary School and Ivano-Frankivsk Art Lyceum.

He was an active participant of the Revolution of Dignity.

Participant of the Russo-Ukrainian War, in particular, a platoon commander of volunteers (2014) and a company (2015).

In 2014, he was seriously wounded in Pisky, Donetsk Oblast, and returned to the front after recovery.

On March 17, 2016, he was appointed commander of the 1st Mechanized Battalion "Da Vinci Wolves" of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Death

On March 7, 2023, Kotsiubailo was killed in the battles of Bakhmut. This was stated by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy in his video address: Today, 'Da Vinci', a Hero of Ukraine, a volunteer, a man-symbol, a man of courage, Dmytro Kotsiubailo, was killed in action. A fighter of the 67th separate mechanized brigade, a commander. He died in the battle near Bakhmut, in the battle for Ukraine.

Awards

• the title of Hero of Ukraine with the Order of the Golden Star (November 30, 2021) — for personal courage in the defense of state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine;

• Order of the People's Hero of Ukraine (2017).