Posthumous Honor: Ukrainian Hero Ihor Zamotskyi Awarded Title for Saving Comrades

The Heroism of Ihor Zamotskyi

According to Главком: On June 8, 2023, Junior Sergeant Ihor Zamotskyi of the Ukrainian Armed Forces was killed while shielding a group of fellow soldiers during an assault near the village of Blahodatne in the Donetsk region. For his exceptional bravery, he was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine on September 30, 2024, as confirmed by Presidential Decree No. 657/2024. This award is the highest state honor in Ukraine, recognizing acts of outstanding courage.

Ihor Zamotskyi, who also went by the call sign Yashka Polozhenets, was born on July 26, 1997, in the city of Kropyvnytskyi. He attended School No. 26, later studied at a construction technical college, and enrolled in the Central Ukrainian National Technical University to major in Economics. In October 2016, he signed a contract with the Ukrainian Armed Forces and served in the 3rd Separate Special Operations Regiment named after Prince Sviatoslav the Brave.

Service and Final Battle

Throughout his service, Ihor participated in the Anti-Terrorist Operation/Joint Forces Operation in eastern Ukraine. Following the full-scale invasion, he carried out combat missions in the Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk regions as part of a Special Operations tactical group. At the time of his death, he was 25 years old and served as a senior UAV operator, having been wounded twice in combat. During the battle on June 8, 2023, he eliminated two enemy combatants before succumbing to fatal machine-gun fire.

Ihor's parents, Vadym and Tetiana Zamotskyi, endured profound hardship; his father had passed away from a severe illness in 2017. Ihor is remembered by his girlfriend, Olia, along with his family and friends. He was laid to rest on June 16, 2023, in the Memorial Alley for Defenders of Ukraine at the Far Eastern Cemetery in Kropyvnytskyi. His hometown honored him by naming a street in his memory, and a flag bearing his name was raised to the summit of Hoverla, Ukraine's highest peak.

Ihor Zamotskyi: 'It would have been terrifying if a Russian flag were flying in our district. I will not allow that.'

Ihor Zamotskyi left a profound impact on those who knew him. He was a dedicated patriot who did not hesitate to risk his own life to protect his comrades and his homeland.

His heroism stands as a powerful example of the dedication and self-sacrifice displayed by Ukrainian soldiers in the fight for their country's independence. The posthumous title of Hero of Ukraine not only honors his personal sacrifice but also serves as a symbol of remembrance for all who have given their lives for peace and freedom in Ukraine. Honoring the memory of heroes like Ihor underscores the importance of collective memory and national identity forged in the crucible of modern war.