In memory of Junior Sergeant Andrii Prokopiv (callsign "Fin").

Andrii Prokopiv's childhood and youth were spent in Kolomyia, located in the Carpathians. He grew up in a large family, which meant he always felt the love and support of his parents, brother, and sister. He trained as a milling master, becoming one of those individuals referred to as "a man with golden hands."

He met his wife Iryna in Kolomyia as well. They didn't date for long—almost immediately, they decided to get married and relocate to Ivano-Frankivsk.

“We spent 25 years together in marriage. Andrii was a skilled specialist in installing plastic windows and doors. He always had work, was talented, cheerful, and sociable. He had many friends,” his wife recalls.

One of his greatest passions was fishing, which meant the family often returned from vacations with plenty of catches.

“The biggest fish we ever caught was at Frankivske Lake. At that time, we were with our sons—Vladyslav and Mykhailo. I remember the immense joy when the boys caught a catfish and a pike together. We have a big family, so we always shared our catch with everyone,” Iryna reminisces.

Andrii took his spinning rod everywhere with him. He even brought it to the front when he unhesitatingly volunteered for military service in March 2022.

He began his service as a soldier in the Transcarpathian Brigade. Later, he learned the profession of a mortarman from scratch and became a junior sergeant and a mortar group commander in the 71st Separate Jaeger Brigade of the Air Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

“Andrii went to the front as a volunteer when we already had three sons growing up. I was very worried about him. Previously, he hadn’t served due to health issues and had no military training. But it was his decision, and it revealed all the virtues of a father to our children—responsibility, courage, hard work, and a readiness to defend his country,” his wife shares.

In the war, Andrii was known by the call sign "Fin." According to Iryna, he always said that if Finland could defend its independence at one time, then Ukraine could do the same. Thus, "Fin," aware of the history of this small European country, fought for a free and strong Ukraine against the Russians.

Andrii called home often. He never complained and loved to joke. It is said that his humor uplifted the spirits of his comrades as they defended their positions in Bakhmut.

“In our last conversation, he said, as always, that he loved me, asked me not to worry, and to be ready for anything. He never spoke about the war—neither to friends nor to family. He said that we should live peaceful lives because that’s what they are fighting for today,” his wife recalls.

Later, Andrii's eldest son would find photos and videos of his father on the "cloud" from his phone. In them, Andrii was capturing moments when he was just learning the military trade and when he had already become a mentor to young fighters. These images would become the most treasured finds for the children.

Andrii Prokopiv was killed on June 7, 2024, near the village of Netailove in the Donetsk region. Along with his comrade Taras, he was caught in an artillery shelling and died instantly.

“Forever 46, my beloved Andriiko, my piece of soul. The cursed war took you from me, from the children, and from your parents. How we cry for you!.. You were the whole world to me and the family. You will remain a warrior and hero, a loving father, and a cherished husband. The heavens weep with me; you are my life and my piece of soul, rest with God, my warrior,” Iryna wrote on Facebook at that time.

Andrii Prokopiv was laid to rest in the village of Liski in the Kolomyia district, where his parents, Maria and Yaroslav, and his sister Oksana live.

The warrior is survived by his wife Iryna and their three sons—Vladyslav, Mykhailo, and Davyd.

“The children keep me from giving up. I also find support from other women and mothers who have gone through the pain of loss. I feel great support from my family as well. We understand that we must live, but it is very hard,” Iryna admits.

On January 22, 2025, she, along with her son Vladyslav, received the award of her husband and father—the Order of "For Courage" of the III degree, which Andrii Prokopiv was posthumously awarded.

Earlier, for his displayed courage and successful execution of a combat mission, Andrii Prokopiv was honored with the "Golden Cross" badge.

Glory to the Heroes!

Photos from the family archive