42-year-old soldier Roman Kuz was killed in action defending his native Mariupol on April 22, 2022.
It happened near the Azovstal steel plant.
Roman was born and spent his entire life in Mariupol. He graduated from Mariupol State University with a degree in Law and from the Azov Maritime Institute with a degree in Navigation. He was an intellectual who had read countless books, spoke English fluently, and was studying Italian. Before the war, he worked as a lawyer.
In 2014, Roman joined the military, serving in the National Guard of Ukraine. After the active phase of the war subsided, he transferred to the Mariupol District Territorial Center for Recruitment and Social Support (RTCC & SS), where he worked as an operator in the mobilization department.
When Russia launched its full-scale invasion, Roman, along with 36 of his colleagues from the RTCC & SS, stayed to defend the city of Mariupol. For about the first two weeks, he still had mobile communication with his family.
“As far as we know, some time after the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, the personnel of his unit were given permission to change into civilian clothes and leave Mariupol, since the city was surrounded on all sides. Similar offers were made by some commanders who had already formed small joint groups of Mariupol’s Defense Forces.
However, Roman never even considered leaving his post in this way. He stated firmly that he would retreat only while fighting.
During March and April, his wife received messages that he was alive, well, believed in victory over the occupiers, and hoped to reunite with his family soon. One of those messages came from the phone of his comrade, Ivan Tarabanovskyi, around April 15. That was the last time we heard from Roman. A few days later, we learned he had been killed.
On April 28, a video appeared on an enemy Telegram channel — it showed our Roman. In the video, our beloved Roma no longer breathed, his heart had stopped. Beside him lay two other fallen defenders,” his relatives recounted.
“Roman was a true patriot of his country — a person who, fully aware of the inevitable hellish hardships and inhuman trials, remained faithful to his principles and to the Ukrainian people. People like Roman are the Heroes of our nation, the treasures of our state. Sadly, the price of such devotion is life itself,” his nephew added.
Roman is survived by his wife Tetiana, daughter Yelyzaveta, sister Larysa, and nephew Borys.
9:00 — Nationwide moment of silence.
The Donetsk Regional Military Administration and the Heroes Memorial platform honor the fallen defenders from Donetsk region.