Yurii Chepurnyi was killed on 19 July 2026 in the Donetsk region while carrying out a combat mission — the evacuation of the wounded. He was a combat medic at the aid post of the first infantry battalion of the 425th Separate Assault Regiment "Skelia".

The Boiarka City Council announced the death of the defender.

A surgeon who became a combat medic

Yurii Olehovych Chepurnyi was born on 2 April 1976 in Novovolynsk in the Volyn region, into a family of engineers. He graduated from a medical university. He first worked as a surgeon, later as an emergency medicine doctor in Kyiv.

He therefore brought to the front not a tactical medicine course but years of work in the operating theatre and on ambulances. For a combat medic in an assault regiment that is a rare level: the decisions he made during evacuation are usually made by a doctor in hospital.

A volunteer since 2015

Yurii Chepurnyi first went to war as a volunteer in 2015, joining the 44th Separate Artillery Brigade. From 2025 he took an active part in combat with the 425th Separate Assault Regiment "Skelia". He was awarded the Presidential decoration "For the Defence of Ukraine".

In 2005 he married and settled in Boiarka with his wife Anastasiia. She now serves as well — a junior lieutenant and platoon commander. The couple have a daughter.

The farewell was held on the Alley of Heroes

The defender was laid to rest on Thursday, 30 July. The funeral service was held at 11:00 in the Church of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin at 65 Desnianska Street. Yurii Chepurnyi was buried around midday on the Alley of Heroes at the town cemetery on Shevchenka Street.

"The memory of Yurii Chepurnyi will live forever in the hearts and recollections of his brothers-in-arms, relatives and fellow townspeople," the community's statement reads. Bucha FM joins in offering condolences to the family and comrades. Eternal memory.

Nota bene

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