Canadian volunteer medic has died in Ukraine, family says | 24CA News
A 28-year-old Canadian volunteering as a medic in the course of the Russian invasion of Ukraine has died, in line with his father.
Grygorii Tsekhmistrenko was from Ukraine, however was a Canadian citizen. He lived in Kinistino, Sask., for years together with his mother and father earlier than transferring to Port Alice, B.C., on Vancouver Island, his father, Vitalii Tsekhmistrenko, advised 24CA News from Kyiv.
“He wanted to build a house on the water after the war,” his father stated.
Tsekhmistrenko, often called Greg to mates, died a while between the evening of Jan. 14 and the early hours of Jan. 15 in Bakhmut, in line with a volunteer soldier who frolicked with Tsekhmistrenko in the course of the conflict.
The soldier stated he is now on his method to Kyiv for Tsekhmistrenko’s funeral.
When requested to substantiate Tsekhmistrenko’s loss of life, Global Affairs Canada stated it could not present any info “due to security considerations.”
Vitalii Tsekhmistrenko stated he and his spouse had travelled to Kyiv from Canada to spend Christmas with their son. They have been all collectively for the vacations.
Tsekhmistrenko’s father stated he got here to Ukraine in January 2022 as hints of conflict began to indicate within the news. When Russia invaded Ukraine, he turned a volunteer medic.
Instagram posts from 2022 present Tsekhmistrenko fundraising for medical provides.
Volunteer medic was ‘vigorous’
Through tears, Lusa Tshibangu advised 24CA News she and Tsekhmistrenko celebrated their friendship anniversary yearly on Dec. 3. The two met at a church camp in Indiana in 2013, however actually obtained shut in 2018, she stated.
“We first started out with candles and then cupcakes,” she stated from her house in Fort Worth, Texas. “But this year, because of the war…” she trailed off.
The two weren’t in a position to have a good time, however she stated Tsekhmistrenko by no means forgot. “He kept reminding me every single day before, saying, ‘Don’t forget our friend-iversary.’ “
She stated Tsekhmistrenko advised her he was already pondering of going to assist Ukraine’s efforts towards Russia again in the summertime of 2021 and that she tried to speak him out of it.
“It is his country, and so he knew from the get-go — no matter what happened — he would go and fight for Ukraine.”
After he left, she stated she texted him on a regular basis.
“He would always send me voice notes just to make sure that I knew he was OK.”
Tshibangu stated a good friend shared an Instagram publish on Sunday with the news that Tsekhmistrenko had died.
“I sent him a text earlier, just hoping that it would go through,” she stated, noting that she had been ready to see if a second checkmark would seem on her WhatsApp textual content to point out that Tsekhmistrenko had learn her message.
“But it hasn’t.”
Tshibangu stated Tsekhmistrenko was “so full of life,” and that he liked to journey and find out about new cultures.
She stated he purchased her a decal for her automotive. “It’s Calvin & Hobbes dancing and there’s a quote: Dance, even if you have to warn people to get out of the way.”
She stated she’s pleased she’ll have his reminiscence along with her wherever she goes.
