President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has posthumously awarded Sergeant Yurii Balanchuk the title of Hero of Ukraine. Balanchuk was a soldier of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine's elite "Artan" unit. His family was presented with the Order of the Golden Star.

Known by his call sign "Babakh," Yurii Balanchuk took part in numerous special operations by the "Artan" unit. These missions led to the elimination of several senior officers of the russian army, and some were captured alive.

He helped return the Tavryda and Petro Hodovanets drilling platforms in the Black Sea with his comrades to Ukrainian control. In October 2023, he also participated in a daring special operation on temporarily occupied Crimean territory.

Yurii was killed in action on October 4, 2023, during a naval battle in the Black Sea. By deliberately ramming an enemy vessel, he made it possible for his fellow soldiers to evacuate safely.

Comrades remember Yurii as a sincere, reliable, and dedicated professional who held himself to the highest standards and became a symbol of loyalty and courage.

"I don't want some 20-year-old kid — just a boy — to take my place on the mission," Babakh once said, underscoring his deep sense of personal responsibility.

Eternal glory to the Hero of Ukraine, Yurii Balanchuk!

Glory to Ukraine!