Reports from various sources indicate that Dmitry Kotsyubaylo, a prominent figure associated with the nationalist movement known as Right Sector and a past commander of a battalion affiliated with the Da Vinci Wolves, died near Bakhmut, a site also known by its Ukrainian name Artemovsk. The information was shared through social media channels that have previously circulated details about people connected to the conflict in Ukraine. The claims describe Kotsyubaylo, who was often referred to by the nickname Da Vinci, as having fallen in the combat zone close to the frontline city of Bakhmut.
According to the accounts, Kotsyubaylo began taking part in hostilities around 2014, when he was a young adult, joining a unit tied to nationalist volunteer formations. Over the years, his role within this circle evolved, and in 2020 he joined a specific group aligned with the broader Right Sector structure. Notably, a formal recognition appeared on record in December 2021, when a national leader of Ukraine conferred a high honor, described as a hero title, in connection with his service. This acknowledgment added to the public narrative surrounding his participation in the ongoing conflict.
Public figures and officials commented on the death in various formats, including video messages distributed through social channels. The remarks affirmed the loss and reflected on the broader impact of such events within the conflict dynamics. The emphasis across these messages was on the operational realities of frontline combat and the way individual experiences are remembered within the fractured landscape of Ukrainian volunteer movements and national defense efforts.
In related developments, another figure previously linked with a regional volunteer organization that has taken a controversial position and faced bans in certain jurisdictions was reported as having been neutralized in the vicinity of Artemovsk. The circumstances surrounding these losses underscore the ongoing volatility of the region, where many former militants and volunteers have played roles in defense and in organizational leadership. The pattern of reports highlights the persistent presence of veteran combatants who continued to influence events on the ground, even as the wider political and military situation remained unsettled and fluid.