In memory of serviceman Volodymyr Kravchenko, known by his call sign "Krava."
In April 2022, fighters from the Azov regiment, along with the Main Intelligence Directorate, made a breakthrough into the besieged Mariupol. Among those who participated in this operation was Azov member Volodymyr Kravchenko. "Krava" was not the type to sit in the rear.
5 Volodymyr was born in 1995 in Luhansk. His mother raised him and his sister Anya alone. She instilled a sense of independence in her son and taught him to be responsible. The young man became passionate about sports and made lifelong friends.
“These were mixed martial arts (MMA). The coach taught the guys not only to fight but also instilled a certain philosophy. He taught that strength should be directed towards protecting people. You can't just fight for no reason; it must be for defense,” recalls Mrs. Kateryna.
6 In 2013, after finishing school, Volodymyr enrolled in the National University of State Tax Service of Ukraine in Irpin, majoring in tax police. He was not afraid to confront serious conflicts to defend those in need of support. Even in his first year, he stood up for a cadet who was accused by the platoon commander of a violation he himself committed. The entire platoon knew about it, but Volodymyr was the only one who openly stated that the girl was innocent. His relationship with the platoon soured, but he endured it.
In 2014, when the Russian-Ukrainian war began, 18-year-old Volodymyr returned to his hometown of Luhansk, intending to prevent the city’s occupation. His mother wouldn't let him go, but he assured her, “I promise, nothing will happen. I'm just going out with friends.” However, during that outing, he ended up in a basement where he was tortured with a taser because they found a conversation with his friend Ilya, who was in the Right Sector, on social media “VKontakte.” His father, a former police officer who joined the separatists, managed to pull him out, telling the captors that he was young and foolish...
7 At that time, in 2014, Volodymyr left his studies because he wanted to join the Armed Forces of Ukraine. However, his family and friends managed to dissuade him.
Nevertheless, on February 24, 2022, he took a stand to defend Ukraine. Volodymyr participated in the defense of Kyiv, and later his childhood friend Ilya helped him transition from territorial defense to the Azov regiment.
“I didn’t know he had made arrangements with Ilya. Anya (Volodymyr’s sister, – ed.) knew a lot but remained silent as well. I only realized it when he was already there. I found out that it was Ilya who helped him enlist when Vova had already died. I was in touch with Ilya; he was still at 'Azovstal' and was apologizing to me…” recalls Mrs. Kateryna.
8 In the first days of the war, Volodymyr received his last message from his father. He suggested that Volodymyr return to Luhansk or stay home until everything was over.
“I will fight for my home and the freedom of my people with blood and sweat. I love Ukraine and my freedom and am ready to die for it. And I am not the only one here. There are millions of us,” he wrote to his father. They never spoke again.
9 In March 2022, the Azov territorial defense announced recruitment for an air special operation by the GUR – a flight by helicopter to the already occupied Mariupol. Volodymyr also volunteered for one of the missions. As his comrade from territorial defense, Ihor Panchyshyn, later told his mother, initially everyone volunteered, but then, realizing the seriousness of the situation, some withdrew, but not Volodymyr. Before the flight, on March 30-31, he wrote to his mother: “I will be gone for two days. Don’t worry.” On March 31, he contacted his cousin Ivan, who was also fighting, and informed him: “I’m currently in Mariupol, but don’t tell mom, or she’ll go out of her mind.”
Fierce battles in the city did not cease, and upon arrival, the soldiers participated in street clashes. The last battle for 26-year-old Volodymyr took place on April 2, 2022, in one of the high-rise buildings.
0 “It was a nine-story building. They were holding the defense on one of the upper floors. There were Russian helicopters. The guys were surrounded. A fragment or bullet hit Volodymyr in the eye. He died,” says the soldier’s mother. Mrs. Kateryna learned about her son’s death on April 22. “Ilya first informed Anya that Vova had died. And I kept waiting,” says the woman.
Volodymyr Kravchenko’s body could not be retrieved from 'Azovstal' immediately due to intense fighting and a large number of wounded. By July 2022, there was no information for his family.
At the end of August 2022, Volodymyr’s body was returned home; it was one of the first such exchanges. His family recognized him by the tattoo of the mythical serpent Ouroboros, which encircles the Earth, biting its own tail...
1 “When he last hugged me, I told him I wouldn’t be able to cope if something happened to him. He then said, ‘Mom, you can, you are strong.’ I was able to respond only by his coffin. Son, I will try. He believed in me. And in Ukraine. He would never have surrendered. And he didn’t. And no matter how hard and painful it is for me, I will definitely not be ashamed,” says the mother of the Hero.
Farewell to Volodymyr Kravchenko took place on August 28, 2022, in the ceremonial hall of the Kyiv crematorium. The urn with his ashes was kept in the Azov regiment for almost a year. His mother and sister awaited reburial at the Memorial of Fallen Defenders of Mariupol, but that has not happened yet. The urn was buried on July 28, 2023, at Lukyanivske Cemetery in Kyiv.
Honor and glory to the Defender!
Photos from the family archive
Based on materials from Memorial. Memory Platform