Life path and trail in sports Andrii Khrapanov was born on September 21, 1985 in the village of Dniprovske in the Sicheslav Oblast. He was a talented athlete, master of sports of Ukraine in free fight, candidate for master of sports in kickboxing, champion of Ukraine in free fight. After the end of his active sports career, he did not leave the sport. Andriy was a judge of the national category, the head of the Sicheslav Regional Free Fight Federation (2017-2023), as well as the founder of the “Upgrade” sports club in his native village.
Andriy organized competitions, conducted training sessions, participated in the preparation of young fighters for championships. Thanks to his efforts, hundreds of young men discovered the world of martial arts, won awards and formed character. Khrapanov believed that sport instills in a person strength of spirit, endurance and the ability to fight for his principles. One of Andriy’s pupils is his son Mykyta, who was a prize-winner of the Ukrainian Free Fight Championship.
Andriy with his sons In 2009, Andriy graduated from the Ukrainian State Chemical and Technological University and received a full higher education majoring in “Equipment of chemical production and building materials enterprises” and qualified as a mechanical engineer.
In addition to sports, Andriy worked in other jobs: in 2007-2009 – at Bezpeka Kompleks LLC as a senior member of the rapid response team; later – a shift foreman at PrJSC “Dniprovsky krokhmalepatokovy kombinat”; from 2021 – at BK Roshen LLC in Boryspil, Kyiv region.
Combat experience An active civic position led Khrapanov to the deputy corps of the Upper Dnipro City Council, and his love of justice – to the front, when the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation began. Andriy joined the ranks of the Airborne Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and became an instructor of the training group of the headquarters of the 1st Airmobile Battalion of the 46th Brigade. In the army, he had the call sign Pardus.
Andriy with his wife Margarita Death Comrades remember Andrii as a man of honor who did not hide behind his comrades’ backs and always went first into battle. On January 7, 2023, Andriy could have avoided a deadly battle near Klishchiivka in the Bakhmut district of Donetsk region, because it was then that other units attacked, but he rushed to help his comrades without hesitation. Died like a hero, having received life-threatening injuries as a result of mortar shelling.
“Andrei was very fair,” friends recall. – Always stood up for the weak, did not tolerate lies. Even at the front, he found time to train and support his comrades.”
For his family, Andrii was a loving husband and a caring father. “My beloved, my dear, I am very hurt. I still don’t believe it, I can’t get enough air, – wrote his wife Margarita, – He did everything to make his family happy, and Ukraine free.”
Andriy Khrapanov was buried in his native village of Dniprovske.
Posthumously, the soldier was awarded the Order “For Courage” III degree.
Source: sport.ua