Vadym Krykun

Known by the call sign “Yankee”, he joined the Azov Battalion in June 2014, where he began his combat path, participating in numerous battles, including Marinka, Ilovaisk, and Pavlopil. He would also go on to fight in the Shryokyne operation in 2015. In February 2022, he founded the Lyubart Volunteer Unit, leading it through key battles such as Velyka Novosilka, Neskuchne, Bakhmut, and throughout 2023, commanded operations on the left bank of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts. He is regarded as a competent and demanding commander, leading by example, drives missions to completion, and deeply cares for the lives of his soldiers. He has consistently pushed for high-tech and decentralized operations along the frontline, and is known for his strategic use of drone warfare and tactical innovation.