Yuriy KYRIVYAZ

Yuriy Hryhorovych Kryvoviaz, a legendary master wagon maker and brave volunteer soldier, passed into Eternity on January 28, 2026. He died from severe wounds sustained while defending the Zaporizhzhia region, remaining faithful to his oath, comrades, and country until his last breath. He was 55 years old.

Yuriy Hryhorovych was a person of exceptional stature—both in the profession to which he dedicated 31 years and in life, where his heart was big enough for everyone.

A master of "golden hands" and a railway pride
Yuriy was born in Kryvyi Rih and devoted his entire working life to his hometown and the railway. Starting in 1991 as a train assistant, he climbed all the professional ladders of mastery.

He was a senior inspector-repairman of the highest, 6th category. There were only five such specialists at the technical maintenance point (TMP) of Kryvyi Rih-Zakhid station.

Leading the TMP and working as a foreman, he never raised his voice. Colleagues remember him as a person of rare composure: Yuriy could teach the most complex things with good humor and calm others in the most stressful situations.

"Uncle Yura"—a guardian angel for his comrades
In March 2022, Yuriy Hryhorovych went to the front as a volunteer. His experience and "golden hands" became indispensable: as a senior driver, he personally repaired equipment, and as a person, he became a father figure for young soldiers.

In 2024, Yuriy held the defense alone for nine days at his position when all his comrades fell. Surviving in that hell was aided by a small toy bee—a gift from his younger daughter, which he always carried as a talisman.

His comrades called him "Uncle Yura." He protected them as if they were his own children and even during short breaks between battles, he tried to cheer them up with delicious food, bringing a momentary sense of home.

The best dad and husband in the world
For his family, Yuriy was the universe. His wife, Yelyzaveta, recalls those years as the best of her life.

"He was ready to do anything for the sake of the children. He could cover 600 kilometers from the front just to spend at least an hour with his seven-year-old daughter on her birthday or take her to school on the first of September."

Yuriy dreamed of taking his mother on a trip around Ukraine after the victory, which he defended so devotedly. Unfortunately, this journey remained a dream, but his heroism ensured the possibility of travel for millions of others.

Yuriy is survived by his mother, wife, and three children: an adult son and daughter from his first marriage and a little daughter.

The team at the TMP of Kryvyi Rih-Zakhid station of the "Dniprovsk Railway" regional branch expresses deep condolences to the family. We have lost not just a colleague, but a professional whose name became synonymous with reliability. The bright memory of Yuriy Hryhorovych—a sincere, reserved, and heroic person—will live in our hearts forever.

Eternal memory and honor to the Hero!