aiThis name, Hypyk Brothers Street, appeared on the map of Kharkiv in 2023. Who are these brothers? Their story is both unusual and ordinary. It reflects the fate of many defenders of our Motherland.

aiKharkiv residents, Victoria and Yevhen Hypyk, had five sons. The parents are Krishnas and their sons also became devoted to a Krishna way of life. The eldest, Bohdan (born in 1988), and Yaroslav (born in 1993), decided to become warriors, kshatriyas, to defend truth and justice. Bohdan graduated from the Kharkiv Academy of Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, and Yaroslav from the National Academy of the National Guard. They both began serving in the military in Kyiv.

aiIn 2014, when the Russian aggressor first began military operations in Donbas, Bohdan Hypyk took part in creating the Azov battalion, a name that is now known throughout the world. They bravely defended Mariupol and liberated it in June of that year. Bohdan also fought in battles near the village of Shyrokyne and the city of Horlivka.

aiAfter graduating from the National Academy of NGU in 2014 with a bachelor's degree, Yaroslav Hypyk did not pursue a master's. Instead, in the summer, he volunteered for the anti-terrorist operation zone as part of a consolidated unit. He fought in fierce battles near Ilovaisk and was lucky to stay alive. Later he was transferred to Azov.

aiBohdan was promoted to commander of the Analytical and Operational Planning Group of the Azov Headquarters. It became a separate operational unit and he developed battle plans that saved many soldiers' lives. Also under his leadership, among many strategic operations, they planned and carried out the killing of a Russian major general.

aiSince 2015, during the Anti-Terrorist Operation - ATO (Ukraine’s official response to Russian-backed forces in eastern Ukraine), both brothers served in all ways they could to defend Mariupol.  

aiIn turn, both brothers were honored for their military service. Bohdan Hypyk received the President of Ukraine’s award “For Participation in the Anti-Terrorist Operation.” Yaroslav received several, including “To the Defender of Mariupol,” “For Participation in the Anti-Terrorist Operation,” the “Independence of Ukraine” award (third degree), and the “Cossack Cross” (second and third degrees), among others.

aiWhen the Great War broke out on February 24, 2022, the brothers were immediately defending Mariupol from the Russian invaders. Major Bohdan Hypyk served as deputy battalion commander of the Azov Regiment, and Captain Yaroslav Hypyk as commander in the Azov Special Forces Sniper Group.

aiTheir call signs were “Mar” (Yaroslav) and “Ram” (Bohdan), given not by their colleagues but by their own mother as a sign of service to Krishna.

aiYaroslav unfortunately received numerous shrapnel wounds and was quickly evacuated to the Ilyich Iron and Steel Works, and then to Mariupol City Hospital No. 1. This incredible warrior died there on March 19, 2022. And in a terrible twist of fate, his body was taken by the Russian occupiers, and what happened to him is still unknown.

aiBohdan continued to fight. A month later, on April 17, 2022, he came under enemy artillery fire near the Azovstal metallurgical plant and was killed.

ai“Mar” and “Ram”, the defenders of Dharma, the Divine Guardians, gave their lives for the truth, for world order, which was violated in Ukraine by Russian occupiers.

aiBoth brothers were posthumously awarded the Order “For Courage” of the III degree.