In memory of soldier and UAV operator Ihor Utyuzha (callsign "Elephant").
Soldier Ihor Utyuzh, with the call sign "Elephant," was killed on December 7, 2023, near the village of Verbove in the Zaporizhia region. During the battle, he shielded his comrades from an enemy drone. He was only 27 years old.
5 Ihor was originally from Kyiv. He enrolled at the National Technical University of Ukraine "Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute." He left his studies in the second year due to a severe injury he sustained during the Revolution of Dignity.
6 In peaceful life, he worked as a rafting instructor and was a manager for renting boats and kayaks. He loved this work immensely. He dreamed of conquering all the raging rivers on every continent, as shared by "Memorial of Heroes."
In the early hours of the Russian invasion, without hesitation, he returned to Ukraine from abroad to voluntarily defend his homeland. He fought as part of the 78th Separate Air Assault Brigade "Herts" in the role of external pilot (operator) of UAVs. He was awarded the distinction of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine – the medal "For Sacrifice and Love for Ukraine," along with numerous certificates and letters of gratitude.
7 The mother of the fallen, Nina, says that her son always fought for justice.
"He was our Universe. Throughout his life, he was a brave fighter for justice, a loyal friend and brother-in-arms, and a true patriot of independent Ukraine. He had a big heart, open to everyone, always helping both loved ones and strangers. No matter how difficult the circumstances, he always encouraged others and said everything would be fine," the woman recalls.
8 Ihor's fiancée, Yevheniya, states that his main desire was our victory in the war.
"Afterward, he planned to travel a lot, organizing his trips so he could attend football matches. He longed for a peaceful and quiet life with his family in a free and independent Ukraine. He really wanted children, and his first child had to be a girl. He dreamed of a small house far in the mountains with incredible views. Ihor aimed to create a charity fund, which he would name 'White Elephant,'" Yevheniya shares.
9 To his comrades, Ihor was "Elephant" — that was his call sign. He was a sturdy man, nearly two meters tall, with a size 46 shoe and broad shoulders that could conceal a small world. Ihor loved elephants very much. In his school years, he confided to his father: "Dad, when I grow up, I will go to Africa to protect elephants. They are often killed for their tusks."
It is believed that elephants are among the most intelligent animals, known for their unique trait of mutual assistance — they never abandon their own and always stay in groups. Comrades say this trait was also characteristic of Ihor. The defender's grave was covered with colorful toys of this animal.
0 During the Revolution of Dignity, on February 18, 2014, Ihor sustained severe injuries during clashes near Mariinsky Park. He was rescued from the hands of the Berkut by MP Iryna Gerashchenko and her colleagues. In critical condition, Ihor underwent several urgent surgeries, receiving a titanium plate for his shattered skull, followed by an extended rehabilitation.
"Tall, kind, like a child, he had the call sign 'Little Elephant,' served in a UAV unit. He died saving his comrades… The war began in 2014. I remember you, bright boy. Thank you for the meeting… and for defending Ukraine. Eternal memory, dear…," Gerashchenko poignantly wrote.
Ihor was buried at the Lisove Cemetery in Kyiv. He is survived by his parents, fiancée, relatives, friends, and comrades.
1 On the website of the President of Ukraine, a petition has been registered to posthumously award the title of "Hero of Ukraine" to Ihor Olegovych Utyuzh. The petition has collected the necessary 25,000 signatures and is currently under consideration by the Head of State at the time of this publication.
Eternal glory to the Hero!
Photo: Facebook page of Ihor "slon" Utyuzh, igor-slon-utyuzh.com, Olga Savenok, Rubrika
Based on materials from Rubrika