Life path and trace in sports Yuri Balanchuk was born on September 9, 1987 in Kiev, where he took the first steps in sports. At first, Yuri got to the Greco-Roman struggle section, trained under the guidance of Honored Coach of Ukraine Mykola Fetisov, performed at the Championships of Kyiv and Ukraine. In addition, Balanchuk tried himself in other sports: he was the winner of Jiu-Jitsu club competitions, and still became the third at the All-Ukrainian Sambo Tournament.
However, the wife of Yulia, with whom Yuri lived for more than ten years, learned about all these diplomas for victory tournaments, with whom Yuri lived after his death, finding them among things and documents. The man did not like to tell much about himself, and he did not consider the third place at all.
Although Balanchuk received his higher education in the field of “printing business”, he went to work in the field of sports: he mastered the profession of massage therapist, worked as a coach and wrote programs for healthy eating. Julia recalls that a man never refused anyone and has always reached out of help. At one of Yuri’s birthdays, when they met, a toast was very well remembered: “Yura is the person who is calling and saying that you cannot find a grinding of the right size. And he will definitely find it. ”
Combat experience When a full -scale invasion began, Yuri and his wife were not at home. Julia recalls that the first days could not put up with the decision of the man to go to fight, but later, on the third day, she still agreed.
Returning to the capital, Balanchuk did not even go home, but immediately went to the military enlistment office, after which he joined the territorial defense. By mid -April 2022, Yuri stood in defense of the capital, and then fought in the Kyiv region and kept defense on the border with Belarus.
On January 18, 2023, Yuri went to serve to the ranks of the Special Forces of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense “Artan”, which he wished for a very long time. He wanted young 18-year-old boys to go to fight. It was for the sake of the next generations and the future of free Ukraine that he took the weapon, having only a year of service in the army in his youth.
Together with his brothers, Balanchuk repeatedly performed combat missions in the rear of the enemy. In particular, the group with Yuri participated in the return of Ukraine’s Tavrida and Petro Godovanets in the Black Sea.
Death Yuriy Balanchuk died on October 4, 2023, performing a combat mission in a temporarily occupied Crimea. Once in a difficult situation, Yuri rammed one of the enemy boats. With this act, he ensured evacuation of his brothers.
When there was 3:58 nights on the clock, Julia suddenly woke up and felt that something had happened to her lover. The only thing she could do was to pray and believe that he may have been injured, but definitely alive, and they will meet soon. But at the 12th day, when Yuri had to call, he never came out. A day after the task, on Thursday, the man had to come home on vacation. He promised his wife to tell everything, even where he came from the call sign.
Ironically, they met on Thursday, but not at the one, but on January 25, 2024, at his funeral.
At home, his beloved wife and her son were waiting for him, who was not a native to Yuri, but whom he loved as his native.
Honoring Even during his life, Yuri was filed for awarding the Medal Merit, but he did not have time to accept it. Posthumously the hero also received the highest distinction from the Main Directorate of Intelligence – “The Star of Glory”. He was also awarded the President of Ukraine for Defense of Ukraine.
On June 13, 2025, the President of Ukraine presented Yuri Balanchuk to the highest state award – the star of the Hero of Ukraine (posthumously).
Source: Sport.ua