Ukrainian soldiers commemorate commander Dmytro "Da Vinci" Kotsiubailo during oath-taking ceremony

Описание: (7 Mar 2026)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Kyiv - 7 March 2026
1. Various of soldiers of Ukraine's Separate Mechanised Battalion "Da Vinci Wolves" singing national anthem in honour guard at tomb of Dmytro Kotsiubailo during oath-taking ceremony
2. Commander of the 'Ulf' Medical Service of the 1st Battalion “Da Vinci Wolves” and widow of Kotsiubailo, Alina Mikhailova, speaking to soldiers UPSOUND (Ukrainian): "Today we will witness the continuation of the life and struggle of the commander and his entire life. Because he devoted absolutely all of his youth, absolutely all of his life to ensuring that Ukraine was free and independent. And each of you today is a continuation of this struggle."
3. Close of “Da Vinci Wolves” battalion commander Dmytro Kotsiubailo's monument
4. Various of soldiers praying with deputy battalion commander Oleksii Makhrinskyi
5. Various of priest blessing soldiers' weapons
6. Various of soldiers bow to the flag before Kotsiubailo's monument during oath-taking ceremony
7. Close of monument
8. SOUNDBITE (Ukrainian) Alina Mikhailova, commander of the 'Ulf' Medical Service of the “Da Vinci Wolves” Battalion:
"Today, there are very few such landmarks and meanings, and in the information space. Therefore, my task, the task of the unit, our command, is to give some simple everyday things to find meanings and understanding to fighters why they go to positions, and why they have been standing today for the fifth year. Because in reality, it is not people who lose motivation, people lose strength and some understanding of when it will all end. And such measures, in my opinion, are a kind of brick in the general perception of fighters where they are and why."
9. Various of soldiers during oath-taking ceremony
10. SOUNDBITE (Ukrainian) Oleksii Makhrinskyi, deputy commander of "Da Vinci Wolves" Battalion:
"In our direction, the situation is consistently difficult, very difficult, and this is always the main direction of attack. We have been on this front for more than two years, but in principle we are holding on to our area. In 9 months we have not lost a single position, so we feel the enemy is pressing now, but the situation in our area is now stabilized."
11. Close of wolf monument on Dmytro Kotsiubailo's grave
12. SOUNDBITE (Ukrainian) Oleksii Makhrinskyi, deputy commander of "Da Vinci Wolves" Battalion:
"On our side, we have not felt this change (after the war in the Middle East began), but we feel that the focus of world attention has shifted quite significantly from Ukraine. Accordingly, this worries us very much"
13. Close of monument
14. SOUNDBITE (Ukrainian) Oleksii Makhrinskyi, deputy commander of "Da Vinci Wolves" Battalion:
"We are already starting various advocacy missions and trying to spread our experience, we offer our experience. There is a training system, a system of building defenses or, conversely, assault operations using unmanned systems. And no one except us, and unfortunately the Russians, has any more expertise in this matter. Accordingly, our expertise is extremely important and very valued, accordingly, we on our side, on the side of the battalion, are ready to fully share our experience and our skills."
15. Wide of monument
16. Close of portrait of Dmytro Kotsiubailo
STORYLINE:
Soldiers of Ukraine's Separate Mechanised Battalion "Da Vinci Wolves" on Saturday commemorated their commander Dmytro Kotsiubailo, callsign Da Vinci, who was killed in action three years ago.

Soldiers gathered on the grave of Kotsiubailo singing the national anthem during an oath-taking ceremony for new recruits.














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