61-year-old defender Vitalii Zozulya died on April 20, 2022, in Mariupol. After refusing to surrender, the Azovstal defender was shot. His family searched for him for over a year and identified him through DNA testing.
Vitalii was born on July 5, 1960, in Mariupol. He lived and studied in the city's historic "Havanh" neighborhood. He graduated from a nautical school and the maritime academy.
Before serving in the military, he worked as a sailor on a transport vessel abroad. From 1980 to 1991, he worked at the Mariupol Fish Cannery, where he served as a ship captain. In 1992–1993, he worked as a fisherman on a fishing schooner. In his spare time, he played football.
In 1993, he became a private entrepreneur. He owned his own workshop and two boats, engaging in the fishing and processing of Sea of Azov fish — salting, smoking, and producing canned goods.
"His fish products were among the best in the city," recalled his wife, Maryna.
After the full-scale invasion, Vitalii stood up to defend the country. He served as a rifleman in the 107th Battalion of the 109th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade. During a combat mission, he sustained wounds and a concussion.
"The last time my youngest daughter and I saw him was on March 8, 2022. He dropped by home for two minutes and brought us a gift — two wax candles shaped like grenades, as there had been no electricity in Mariupol since March 2," his wife remembered.
The defender was buried in June 2023 on the Alley of Heroes in Kharkiv.
"He was a decent man, a good father, and a true friend. Honest, fair, candid, reliable — a genuine man. Someone who always kept his word. This is a great loss for the family," added his wife Maryna.
He is survived by his wife, three daughters, and a grandson.
At 9:00 AM — the national minute of silence. The Donetsk Regional Military Administration and the Heroes' Memorial platform honor the fallen defenders from Donetsk Oblast.