Artist Myroslava Kopcha and engineer Artur Vilchynskyi die defending Ukrainian skies

Myroslava Kopcha, alias Akira, an artist and volunteer from Ternopil Oblast, and her fellow soldier Artur Vilchynskyi, alias Promin ("Ray"), an engineer and designer, have been killed in action while carrying out a combat mission to defend Ukraine's skies.

Source: The Barakuda aerial reconnaissance unit, where both served; Kruk, a weapon customisation producer

Quote from the Barakuda unit: "Today is one of the darkest days for Barakuda […] Words fail us. No one is ever ready for losses like this.

They were radiant, genuine people, true Ukrainians, who made the world around them better even in its bleakest hours. Promin. Akira.

It is a great honour for us to have served alongside you in the same ranks. We will continue your work. We will take revenge."

More details: The Kruk company said that Artur worked as a designer and created many products for the company. They described him as "a person with an unusual gift for solving complex problems" and "a good friend".

Myroslava was an artist, a visionary and the creator of the company's visual identity. She was born in Ternopil Oblast and studied in Lviv.

Her first solo exhibition took place in August 2021. More recently, Myroslava held a live art performance in Kyiv to raise funds for the Da Vinci Wolves Battalion.

Akira's friend Katryna Shpahina said that she had returned from Poland to join the defence of her country. She remembers her friend as "a remarkable person" who created "a lot of incredible art".

Quote from Katryna Shpahina: "Mira was a remarkable person, she loved to draw, drink flat white coffee and Hello Kitty. She carried herself with quiet confidence and calm. Despite her young age, she was wise yet unpretentious, seeing the world differently and uncovering beauty wherever she looked. She knew how to listen and how to offer comfort when things were hardest. She was like a ray of sunlight breaking through a grey sky [...]

Mira's talent was extraordinary, and she had the courage to turn her artistic visions into reality. She did not shy away from obstacles – she met them with creativity."

More details: Barakuda unit has launched a fundraising campaign to support the families of Mira and Artur.

Background: It has been reported earlier that Yaryna Mruts, a combat medic from the 210th Separate Assault Regiment, has been killed in action.

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