The commander of the special unit “Wolves Da Vinci” Dmitry Kotsyubailo with the nickname Da Vinci died in the fighting for Bakhmut on March 7, 2023. Dmitry was only 27 years old, and he fought since 18. After the Revolution of Dignity, he volunteered to the east of Ukraine. During the full-scale Russian invasion, Da Vinci fought in various directions, but died in the Donetsk region, which he called his “second home”.
The Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers publishes photos of Konstantin and Vlada Liberov, who filmed the work of the special unit “Wolves Da Vinci” in the last days of the life of their commander Dmitry Kotsyubail.
In December 2021, Dmitry Kotsyubailo received the highest state award — the title of Hero of Ukraine. He was a volunteer who joined the forces of resistance to the Russian invasion in 2014. Subsequently, he was seriously wounded, but after a long rehabilitation he returned to the war. Dmitry became the commander of the battalion “Wolves Da Vinci” and in his subordination there were several hundred people. Dmitry Kotsyubail's unit worked in various directions since the full-scale Russian invasion and performed complex tasks. Dmitry Kotsyuybaylo died on March 7, 2023 in battle near Bakhmut.
“It so happened that most of all we became friends and became closer in the last days of Dmitry's life. We worked with him from March 5 to March 7, including the day of his death. These three days, which we still remember, were special,” says photographer Vlada Liberova.
Konstantin and Vlada Liberov photographed Da Vinci and his unit as they worked in various directions, including during the Kharkov Campaign. Konstantin even managed to make Dmitry and his beloved Alina a shooting like a love story, but on a tank.
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“On March 5, Dmitry called Kostya and said: “Come!”. This was the period when the fiercest fighting for Bakhmut began. The Russians tried to cut off the last road to the city,” Vlada recalls. “The Da Vinci Battalion solved the most urgent issues and the most difficult tasks. And that was just one of those tasks. Da Vinci's Wolves needed to knock the Russians out of a certain landing in order to further strengthen our defenses. They went on the offensive.”
Constantine and Da Vinci boarded a tank and drove into an enemy landing. Proximity to the enemy was minimal. They jumped from the tank into a trench dug by the 110th Brigade.
“The trench had just been dug, it still had water knee-deep. The guys came through this trench and cleared everything. The assault lasted a little over an hour. Dmitry and his fighters stayed with the 110th Brigade until the evening — to make sure that everything was fine,” says Vlada Liberov about the last assault of Da Vinci.
The next day, March 6, was also full of events. Dmitry Kotsyubail had a favorite trophy tank, which he acquired while working in the Kharkiv direction. A tank with full ammunition was hit in Chasovy Yar and it caught fire. No one dared the tank not only to extinguish, but even to come close to it.
“Da Vinci took an eggplant of water, climbed on this tank and killed it with his own hand. Dmitry was not afraid of anything and it was felt,” says the photographer.
On March 7, Konstantin and Vlada Liberov planned to shoot the work of the trophy Soncepek — “Da Vinci's favorite toy”.
“We were going to leave, but heavy shelling started. We managed to go to the shelter, Da Vinci's brothers made it, and he didn't. He always went to the shelter last to make sure of his safety,” says Vlada Liberova.
A mortar mine exploded near Dmitry Kotsyubail, one of the fragments hit his neck. Unfortunately, nothing could be done.
“We are very sore and Kostya and I, to be honest, have not yet accepted this loss,” Vlada shares. “Of course, our friends and acquaintances are constantly dying. It always hurts, but over time it becomes at least a little, but easier. Since Da Vinci's death, it hasn't gotten any easier.”
Vlada adds that not every commander, especially the level of Da Vinci, is ready to just get on the tank and go on the assault.
“A tank is a very visible target, there are a lot of anti-tank weapons and, of course, it is a big risk. Dmitry knew how to lead people. He cared very much about his personnel, cared more about his people than about himself. He thought first about the great goal and the brothers, and only then about himself. For this he was very much loved and appreciated”, — concludes Vlada.
Konstantin and Vlada Liberov filmed how the trophy Sonzepek works. This happened exactly half a year after the death of Da Vinci.
“Everyone present during the shooting of Sonzepek had the feeling that Da Vinci was also nearby. It was a shot at the enemy with one hundred percent hit,” says Vlada Liberova. “It seemed like Da Vinci also sees it and smiles.”
On March 10, thousands of military and civilians came to Maidan Nezalezhnosti in Kyiv to guide Da Vinci on his last journey. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky presented to the mother of the deceased soldier Oksana Kotsyubailo the medal “Cross of Combat Merit”, which Dmitry was awarded posthumously.
Konstantin Liberov— Ukrainian photographer, photojournalist. Knight of the Order “For Merit” III degree (2023). One of his photos was selected by Time magazine among the 100 Best Photos of 2022. During the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, together with his wife Vlada Liberova, they filmed the consequences of the war in Kharkiv, Severodonetsk, Lysychansk, Svyatogorsk, Nikolaev, Bucha, Irpen, Kyiv and other cities. Photos of Konstantin were published by The Kyiv Independent, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journa, The Insider, The Independent.
Photographer's social networks: Instagram, Facebook
The material was worked on:
Researcher of the topic, author of the text: Kateryna Moskalyuk
Bild-editor: Vyacheslav Ratynskyi
Literary Editor: Julia Futei
Site Manager: Vladislav Kuhar
Read also: Life on the edge. The struggle for the city of Bakhmut in the photos of Ukrainian documentarians
The project is implemented thanks to support IWM Documenting Ukraine.
The commander of the special unit “Wolves Da Vinci” Dmitry Kotsyubailo with the nickname Da Vinci died in the fighting for Bakhmut on March 7, 2023. Dmitry was only 27 years old, and he fought since 18. After the Revolution of Dignity, he volunteered to the east of Ukraine. During the full-scale Russian invasion, Da Vinci fought in various directions, but died in the Donetsk region, which he called his “second home”.
The Ukrainian Association of Professional Photographers publishes photos of Konstantin and Vlada Liberov, who filmed the work of the special unit “Wolves Da Vinci” in the last days of the life of their commander Dmitry Kotsyubail.
In December 2021, Dmitry Kotsyubailo received the highest state award — the title of Hero of Ukraine. He was a volunteer who joined the forces of resistance to the Russian invasion in 2014. Subsequently, he was seriously wounded, but after a long rehabilitation he returned to the war. Dmitry became the commander of the battalion “Wolves Da Vinci” and in his subordination there were several hundred people. Dmitry Kotsyubail's unit worked in various directions since the full-scale Russian invasion and performed complex tasks. Dmitry Kotsyuybaylo died on March 7, 2023 in battle near Bakhmut.
“It so happened that most of all we became friends and became closer in the last days of Dmitry's life. We worked with him from March 5 to March 7, including the day of his death. These three days, which we still remember, were special,” says photographer Vlada Liberova.
Konstantin and Vlada Liberov photographed Da Vinci and his unit as they worked in various directions, including during the Kharkov Campaign. Konstantin even managed to make Dmitry and his beloved Alina a shooting like a love story, but on a tank.
“On March 5, Dmitry called Kostya and said: “Come!”. This was the period when the fiercest fighting for Bakhmut began. The Russians tried to cut off the last road to the city,” Vlada recalls. “The Da Vinci Battalion solved the most urgent issues and the most difficult tasks. And that was just one of those tasks. Da Vinci's Wolves needed to knock the Russians out of a certain landing in order to further strengthen our defenses. They went on the offensive.”
Constantine and Da Vinci boarded a tank and drove into an enemy landing. Proximity to the enemy was minimal. They jumped from the tank into a trench dug by the 110th Brigade.
“The trench had just been dug, it still had water knee-deep. The guys came through this trench and cleared everything. The assault lasted a little over an hour. Dmitry and his fighters stayed with the 110th Brigade until the evening — to make sure that everything was fine,” says Vlada Liberov about the last assault of Da Vinci.
The next day, March 6, was also full of events. Dmitry Kotsyubail had a favorite trophy tank, which he acquired while working in the Kharkiv direction. A tank with full ammunition was hit in Chasovy Yar and it caught fire. No one dared the tank not only to extinguish, but even to come close to it.
“Da Vinci took an eggplant of water, climbed on this tank and killed it with his own hand. Dmitry was not afraid of anything and it was felt,” says the photographer.
On March 7, Konstantin and Vlada Liberov planned to shoot the work of the trophy Soncepek — “Da Vinci's favorite toy”.
“We were going to leave, but heavy shelling started. We managed to go to the shelter, Da Vinci's brothers made it, and he didn't. He always went to the shelter last to make sure of his safety,” says Vlada Liberova.
A mortar mine exploded near Dmitry Kotsyubail, one of the fragments hit his neck. Unfortunately, nothing could be done.
“We are very sore and Kostya and I, to be honest, have not yet accepted this loss,” Vlada shares. “Of course, our friends and acquaintances are constantly dying. It always hurts, but over time it becomes at least a little, but easier. Since Da Vinci's death, it hasn't gotten any easier.”
Vlada adds that not every commander, especially the level of Da Vinci, is ready to just get on the tank and go on the assault.
“A tank is a very visible target, there are a lot of anti-tank weapons and, of course, it is a big risk. Dmitry knew how to lead people. He cared very much about his personnel, cared more about his people than about himself. He thought first about the great goal and the brothers, and only then about himself. For this he was very much loved and appreciated”, — concludes Vlada.
Konstantin and Vlada Liberov filmed how the trophy Sonzepek works. This happened exactly half a year after the death of Da Vinci.
“Everyone present during the shooting of Sonzepek had the feeling that Da Vinci was also nearby. It was a shot at the enemy with one hundred percent hit,” says Vlada Liberova. “It seemed like Da Vinci also sees it and smiles.”
On March 10, thousands of military and civilians came to Maidan Nezalezhnosti in Kyiv to guide Da Vinci on his last journey. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky presented to the mother of the deceased soldier Oksana Kotsyubailo the medal “Cross of Combat Merit”, which Dmitry was awarded posthumously.
Konstantin Liberov— Ukrainian photographer, photojournalist. Knight of the Order “For Merit” III degree (2023). One of his photos was selected by Time magazine among the 100 Best Photos of 2022. During the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, together with his wife Vlada Liberova, they filmed the consequences of the war in Kharkiv, Severodonetsk, Lysychansk, Svyatogorsk, Nikolaev, Bucha, Irpen, Kyiv and other cities. Photos of Konstantin were published by The Kyiv Independent, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journa, The Insider, The Independent.
Photographer's social networks: Instagram, Facebook
The material was worked on:
Researcher of the topic, author of the text: Kateryna Moskalyuk
Bild-editor: Vyacheslav Ratynskyi
Literary Editor: Julia Futei
Site Manager: Vladislav Kuhar
Read also: Life on the edge. The struggle for the city of Bakhmut in the photos of Ukrainian documentarians
The project is implemented thanks to support IWM Documenting Ukraine.
UAPP is an independent association of professional Ukrainian photographers, designed to protect their interests, support, develop and promote Ukrainian photography as an important element of national culture.
UAPP's activities span educational, social, research and cultural initiatives, as well as book publishing.
UAPP represents Ukrainian professional photography in the international photographic community and is an official member of the Federation of European Photographers (FEP) — an international organization representing more than 50,000 professional photographers in Europe and other countries around the world.
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