On December 26th, a small group of elite Ukrainian commandos lost their lives crossing the Russian border. These missions behind enemy lines are extraordinarily dangerous. Stand With Ukraine today tells the story of these four heroes and pays tribute to the courage and dedication of Ukrainian commandos.
Since the beginning of the war, Ukrainian commandos have carried out incredibly risky operations to combat Russian aggression. Most of these missions are classified, but one rare example was made public in November when it was revealed that a Ukrainian commando had destroyed three Ka-52 helicopters in the Pskov region without being detected.
Unfortunately, on December 26th, while the small team was crossing the border between Ukraine and the Russian region of Bryansk, they fell into a minefield. None of them survived.
The leader of the group, Yuriy Horovets, codename “Saint,” had already carried out numerous high-risk operations behind enemy lines. During the Russian invasion of 2014, he defended Mariupol and fought in the Battle of Ilovaisk. He was 34 years old.
Maksym Mykhailov, passionate about Cossack culture, not only participated in the Maidan Revolution but also went to organize protests in Russia against Putin’s policies. He was 32 years old.
Taras Karpyuk was the oldest of the group. At 38, he was one of the first to volunteer to fight in 2014. In the hell of Ilovaisk, he was wounded, requiring years of treatment. In 2022, he was once again among the first to join the front.
Bogdan Lyagov, nicknamed Apollo, was the youngest in the unit. At just 19 years old, he quickly became as skilled as a veteran, carrying out dangerous operations and demonstrating a courage that earned the respect of his peers.
These were Yuriy, Maksym, Taras, and Bohdan. Elite soldiers and heroes who gave their lives so that Ukrainians could live free. While Russia sends prisoners to the front as cannon fodder, Ukraine is losing the best of its children. But these heroes are ready to make this sacrifice to defend their country, their families, and their freedom. Glory to the Heroes!
