The History of Borisypil Village
Founded in 1909 by Ukrainian settlers from the Poltava region, the village of Borisypil is located in Russia's Amur Oblast. According to the latest census, its official population is 210, though the actual number of residents is closer to 150. The village has three streets: Sadova, Trudova, and Vysoka. A 1926 census recorded a much larger community of 87 households and 456 inhabitants, highlighting a significant demographic decline over the past century.
The Fate of the Babych Brothers
The story of the three Babych brothers from Borisypil has become a stark symbol of the human cost of Russia's war against Ukraine. Timofiy Babych was killed on April 23, 2022, near the village of Velyka Komyshuvakha in Kharkiv Oblast while serving with the 38th Separate Guards Motor Rifle Brigade (military unit #21720). Volodymyr Mykolayovych Babych died on June 9, 2023, near Levadne in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, where he served as a senior gunner in the 1466th Motor Rifle Regiment (unit #95483).
Public records show that in 2017, Volodymyr Mykolayovych was detained for producing hashish oil, and in 2019 for possessing marijuana. Also in 2017, a cohabitant accused him of making death threats.
Data indicates that Amur Oblast has lost at least 1,437 individuals over four years of war against Ukraine. The casualties include:
- 80 mobilized soldiers
- 157 recruits from penal colonies
Losses in other local areas include 33 dead in the district center of Seryshevo, 8 in the village of Tomske, and 137 in the town of Bilogirsk. It is noteworthy that the 73rd Heavy Bomber Aviation Division of the Soviet Long-Range Aviation was formed at the 'Ukrainka' airfield in 1956.
The straight-line distance from Borisypil to the Aihui district of Heihe city is approximately 140 kilometers. The flag of Seryshevsky District was officially approved in 2010. The fate of the Babych brothers and the casualty statistics from Amur Oblast illustrate the complex and tragic human consequences of the ongoing military conflict. This war continues to impact communities far from the front lines, including remote regions of Russia where historical ties to Ukraine add layers of complexity to the personal losses endured.