Junior Sergeant Danyil Sychov, call sign Bronik, was killed on September 12, 2023, during an assault in the village of Andriivka in Donetsk region. The warrior was 23 years old.
Danyil was born on January 9, 2000, in Mariupol into a large family and was the youngest among his older brothers and sisters. He started reading early and was very active as a child, often walking long distances along the coast of the Sea of Azov.
“Since childhood, Danya loved listening to books that his older brother Ihor read to him with great affection. Together they traveled with the heroes of The Lord of the Rings, admiring the courage and nobility of literary characters. Danyusha would cry when someone died in the story and demanded the plot be changed because it was unfair,” his mother Tetiana recalled.
For weeks he built entire cities from Lego. He played the guitar and knew the history of Ukraine well. Learning came easily to him, so he enrolled without difficulty in the extramural program at Mariupol State University, majoring in Law. His first and favorite job while studying was working as a barista, and he dreamed of opening his own coffee shop.
“To become more financially independent, in October 2021 he got a job at Azovstal. Danya worked hard while still finding time for creativity: he wrote poetry and took photos and videos of the plant, as photography was another of his passions. These photos preserved the last days of the plant before the full-scale invasion,” his mother said.
After finishing a night shift on the morning of February 24, 2022, he went straight to the military enlistment office and joined the Territorial Defense Forces, where he was assigned as a rifleman. In March, by order of his battalion commander, he spent a month making his way out of encirclement on his own.
Danyil survived the blockade of Mariupol. On March 31, 2022, he wrote on Instagram:
“Miracles exist, and something higher than us exists too, otherwise I would be dead. Mariupol, you are in my heart. I hope to return soon to destroy the invaders and free our people. We are all mortal, but life must be достойне. Only together are we strong, the truth is with us, and victory will be ours. Glory to Ukraine.”
Together with other comrades and their commander who managed to break out of the encirclement, they reorganized the battalion and continued their service. From February 20, 2023, Bronik served as a reconnaissance operator in the Bakhmut Territorial Defense. Later he was promoted to junior sergeant. His comrades remember him as determined and persistent. Danyil always showed strong motivation and determination to achieve his goals. He wanted to destroy the enemy on the front line, fighting as part of assault units to drive them from Ukrainian land.
On July 20, 2023, Danyil was transferred as a grenadier to the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade. He was among the defenders who helped liberate Andriivka.
“Danyusha was an incurable altruist from childhood until his last breath. He gave his time, money, strength, and attention to friends and their families. It always seemed to me that Danya was in a hurry to live, wanting to do many things at once. He loved tenderly and passionately, though sadly unrequited,” Tetiana said.
The warrior was laid to rest on November 7, 2023, in Zhytomyr, where the family settled after the occupation of Mariupol.
Danyil is survived by his parents, two brothers, two sisters, and nephews.
At 9:00 a.m., Ukraine observes a nationwide minute of silence. The Donetsk Regional Military Administration, together with the Memorial Heroes platform, honors the fallen defenders from Donetsk region.