Oleksii Borys
27 years old, journalist at «Yurydychna Hazeta»
Oleksii Borys
Chornyi Kit
June 17, 1995
Kyiv
Kyiv National Economic University named after Vadym Hetman
National Defence University of Ukraine
Journalist at «Yurydychna Hazeta».
Legal assistant in the practices of food industry, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, and antitrust law at Arzinger Law Firm.
Chief Specialist of the State Property Fund of Ukraine in the field of corporate rights management and state-owned enterprises.
Chief Specialist of the Investigations Department of the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine.
Intern of the Association4U project at the Ministry of Health of Ukraine
Lieutenant of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Voluntarily mobilized on February 25, 2022; served in the Chernihiv region, participated in the defense of the Lysychansk Oil Refinery, Soledar, and Bakhmut; commander of a platoon of the anti-tank artillery battery of the 58th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade, and was preparing for appointment as deputy commander of a rocket artillery battery
On February 9, 2023, he was killed in a car accident while serving in the military
Olena Osmolovska, CEO and Acting Editor-in-Chief of «Yurydychna Hazeta»:
On February 9, our journalist Oleksii Borys was killed. He was 27 years old. Even before the full-scale invasion, he knew he would immediately go to the military enlistment office – and already on February 26, together with his father, they were on their way to training, and a month later they were on the eastern front, at the “zero line.”
Bakhmut, Chasiv Yar – I constantly sent packages there that we collected for his platoon. Young guys – intelligent and caring – were the first to stand up for the defense of Ukraine. In the war with Russia, we are losing the very best people, the ones who were moving our country toward change.
Oleksii could not stand hypocrites and never forgave betrayal. He was always extremely sincere in his views and feelings, serious, responsible, and always faithful to his principles. He loved and befriended wholeheartedly. He dreamed and made plans for the future. He wrote to me from the front saying that he missed journalism. Such a difficult path toward our Victory!
Oksana Zhurba, editor at «Yurydychna Hazeta»:
Positive, determined, principled, active – that was Oleksii. Even before the full-scale invasion, he openly said more than once that he would go defend Ukraine. From the very first day of the war, he kept the word of a brave Ukrainian. At the editorial office of «Yurydychna Hazeta», we accepted this with respect. Oleksii volunteered together with his father.
What will remain in my memory is his enormous passion for history books. He always emphasized that books were what shaped him.
There was also his love for cats – they were his weakness (even though he had allergies), yet he never ignored a fluffy stray on the street. He often asked me to tell him more about my cat Markusyk. It lifted his spirits.
Oleksii deeply loved sunny Odesa, where he spent almost every vacation.
And karaoke… Oh, one could talk endlessly about his singing. He never held back at events where there was music and a microphone))).
He loved everything Ukrainian, and after Victory he dreamed of going to the Carpathians with his beloved to clear his mind.
In an interview “first-hand about the war,” he said: “I do not regret anything. I understand that I am a defender, and I am defending my homeland.”
We will remain heartbroken for a long time because the best among us are leaving. You are our brave, courageous, and sincere friend. No, you are a Hero, Oleksii! Our hearts are shattered… Eternal memory!
He led an active student life and was a member of the Board of the Students’ League of the Ukrainian Bar Association.
From 2016 to 2018 – Head of the Committee of Social Initiatives. Organizer of:
- III–IV School of the Future Parliamentarian
- I School on Lobbying and Interaction with Government Authorities