Lieutenant of the National Police of Ukraine Daniil Safonov was killed in the city of Mariupol on May 2, 2022, as a result of a mortar attack on the Azovstal plant. The defender was 28 years old.
Daniil was born in Donetsk. In 2014, he moved to live with his grandmother in Mariupol. Later, he settled in Terebovlia in the Ternopil region.
For three years under contract, he fought in the Anti-Terrorist Operation zone. He served as an artilleryman in the 44th Separate Artillery Brigade. After completing his military service, he returned to Mariupol. In 2019, he joined the patrol police.
“A genuine, pure idealist. A very principled young man and a bright person. He never followed the crowd. He had his own principles — thoughtful, a bit idealistic, but normal for his age. He strictly adhered to them,” said Mykhailo Vershynin, head of the Mariupol Patrol Police, who was alongside Daniil at Azovstal.
During the full-scale invasion, as part of a police platoon of the 2nd company, 1st battalion of the Patrol Police Department in Donetsk region, Daniil defended Mariupol. Despite mortal danger, he traveled to the Left Bank district to assist residents. In April 2022, he relocated to the Azovstal plant.
“Good morning, we are from Ukraine!!! Alive and well, holding the defense, the Mariupol fortress stands!!! Glory to Ukraine!!!” Daniil wrote on his Twitter page on April 19, 2022.
“We were all very scared. But in any case, he kept himself together, even though he understood the worst could happen,” Mykhailo Vershynin recalled.
On May 2, 2022, Daniil and two servicemen were returning from a combat mission on the territory of Azovstal. At 11:00 a.m., they came under mortar fire. All three were killed.
“They went to fetch water — it was extremely dangerous. He could have refused, because every trip for water or food was like roulette; the entire area was under fire. But he went. And we never saw him alive again,” Vershynin said.
Lieutenant of Police Daniil Safonov was posthumously awarded the title Hero of Ukraine with the Order of the Gold Star.
The defender was laid to rest on June 21, 2022, in Terebovlia, Ternopil region.
He is survived by his son, mother, brother, and other relatives.
At 9:00 a.m. — a nationwide minute of silence. The Donetsk Regional Military Administration and the Memorial of Heroes platform honor the fallen defenders of Donetsk region.