Soldier Vitalii Katsarskyi, callsign "Psykh," was killed on March 7, 2022, in Mariupol. He was 36 years old.
Vitalii was born in Mariupol. He earned a degree in psychology from the Donetsk Institute of Social Education and lived in Donetsk. There, in 2010, he met Kateryna, who would later become his wife.
In 2014, he took part in pro-Ukrainian rallies in Donetsk and was deeply affected by what was happening to the city. That same year, he and Kateryna returned to Mariupol, where Vitalii joined the National Guard of Ukraine.
On February 16, 2022, the couple welcomed their son. When Russia launched its full-scale invasion, Vitalii insisted that his wife and newborn leave the city. Kateryna managed to board the last Mariupol–Lviv train. She says that Vitalii saved their lives.
On March 2, he sent his wife his last message. Vitalii was posthumously awarded the Order for Courage, Third Class.
He is survived by his wife, son, and mother.
At 9:00 a.m., Ukraine observes the National Minute of Silence. The Donetsk Regional Military Administration and the Memorial of Heroes platform honor the memory of the fallen defenders from the Donetsk region.