Honoring Volodymyr Huzar: A Mariupol and Azovstal Defender Lost to Russian Prison
Ukrainian border guard Volodymyr Huzar died in Russian captivity on September 5, 2022, after months of defending the country against Moscow’s full-scale invasion. He had spent more than ten years serving with the 1st Border Detachment, and from 2014 he was actively involved in the anti-terrorist operation and the Joint Forces Operation in Donetsk region. When the full-scale war began, Huzar joined the defense of Mariupol, including holding the strategically important Azovstal steelworks.
In March 2022, while carrying out missions in the Skhidnyi neighborhood, Huzar helped spot enemy sniper hideouts, fend off hostile attacks, and capture a truck stocked with ammunition. On May 16, 2022, following orders, he went into captivity in order to protect the lives of his fellow service members. Although he survived the Olenivka prison attack, he later died in pretrial detention center No. 2 in the Russian city of Taganrog.
Remembering a Fallen Defender
Volodymyr Huzar was buried in Kyiv in May 2024. He is survived by his wife and young son Bohdanchyk, and because he was the only son of his parents, the loss has been particularly heavy. His name has been entered into the Book of Remembrance of the Ministry of Internal Affairs system. Huzar’s story reflects the brutal and tragic realities endured by Ukraine’s defenders, and remembering such heroes strengthens society’s support for grieving families and the broader pursuit of justice and peace.