Heroes of Ukraine: Colonel Vitalii Huliaiev

I met Colonel Vitalii Huliaiev on the 101st day of the war.

It is difficult to surprise me. In my life I have met many remarkable people. Vitalii surprised me.

I was in awe of his professionalism, his sincerity, his inner strength, his optimism, and the simple humanity with which he carried all of it. After spending time with him, I left more certain than I had been when I arrived that Ukraine would stand. Some men make you believe things just by being who they are. He was one of them.

Several weeks later, a russian rocket struck his command post. Colonel Huliaiev was killed. So were three of his lieutenant colonels. Russia had succeeded in decapitating the entire command group of one of Ukraine’s most successful brigades in a single strike.

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