On Tuesday, August 5, Kyiv’s Dynamo played their first match of the third qualifying round of the Champions League against the Cypriot club Paphos.
This was a home match for the Ukrainian team, but due to the full-scale war started by Russian aggressors, the “white-blues” are forced to play their European fixtures outside Ukraine. This game, like the rest under UEFA’s auspices, took place in the Polish city of Lublin. For the second time in the stands of the “Lublin Arena”, special honorary guests watched the match — the families of deceased Ukrainian defenders who were fans of the club, who came to support their beloved team.
For the families of the heroes, this is much more than just a football event. This event is a return to the stands where their loved ones once were. They once again had the opportunity to feel the familiar atmosphere, hear poignant slogans, and, of course, honor the memory of those who were dear to them.
In particular, the match between Dynamo and Paphos was attended by relatives of the following servicemen:
Oleg “Berkut” Didushko, who was a fan of FC Dynamo (Kyiv) and a representative of the “Old Legion” collective. A representative of the old school of fans in the capital, he traveled across a huge number of Ukrainian (and not only) cities for Dynamo. He witnessed the times, as fans often say — “back then,” the romanticism of fandom. He also participated in a large number of football-related events of the 1990s-2000s. Legends still circulate in the stands about Oleg “Berkut” and his teammates’ away adventures.
In winter 2013-2014, he was on Maidan Nezalezhnosti in Kyiv, where he actively participated in the Revolution of Dignity. On February 18, 2014, he was wounded in the leg on Hrushevskoho Street. With the onset of Russian military aggression in the east of the country, he volunteered to join the National Guard of Ukraine. From May to July 2014, he served as a grenade launcher in the 2nd reserve battalion of the NGU. Since May 2014, he participated in the ATO.
On February 7, 2015, around 10:30 PM, while on duty at a checkpoint near the city of Debaltseve (Donetsk region), a group that included soldier Oleg Didushko came under continuous artillery and mortar fire. During the battle, Oleg Didushko received numerous shrapnel wounds incompatible with life. For personal bravery and high professionalism shown in defending the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, he was awarded the Order of “For Courage” III class (posthumously).
Volodymyr “Nait” Osinovko, who was a fan of FC Dynamo (Kyiv). Since childhood, starting to attend the fan sector with his father at home and away matches of Dynamo, Volodymyr soon became an active participant.
From the first days of the full-scale invasion, he joined the 112th (now 241) brigade of the 130th battalion of the Territorial Defense Forces, where he served as a sniper in the fire support company. The fighters of this battalion were among the first to head east after the defense of the capital.
He participated in the defense of Kyiv, liberating Irpin, defending Kharkiv, freeing Kharkiv region, and repeatedly carried out combat missions in Bakhmut and the Kupiansk direction.
LATER, “Nait” fought as a sniper and managed to eliminate several dozen enemies. He died on March 1, 2024, while performing a combat mission in the area of Ivanivske near Bakhmut (Donetsk region).
Maxim “Nasim” Tokarev, who was a fan of FC Dynamo (Kyiv), was a representative of the “Neighborhood” collective. He joined the Dynamo fan sector while still in school, as the whole family supported the Kyivans. Those close to him recall that the principles of the fan community and the overall atmosphere in the stands had a strong influence on the young man. The struggle against injustice and defending honor, inherent in the fan movement, shaped the boy’s worldview.
Like the vast majority of capital fans, Maxim participated in the Revolution of Dignity. On February 18, 2014, the 16-year-old saved people from the burning House of Trade Unions on Maidan. He was wounded in the leg and jumped from the second floor when the flames engulfed the lower part of the building.
At the beginning of the full-scale war, “Nasim” was with the 503rd separate battalion of marines at the Donetsk direction. In June 2022, he suffered a shrapnel wound. After treatment, he returned to service, and in August, he received a promotion to unit commander.
He died on October 23, 2022, in the area of Opytne (Donetsk region), as a result of an explosion of a device during the performance of a combat mission. He was awarded the Order of “For Courage” III class (posthumously).
Rostyslav “Dzhery” Tereshchenko, who was a fan of FC Dynamo (Kyiv). Rostyslav started supporting the capital’s Dynamo in his youth, and in 2011 he got into the fan sector. He had a large number of away trips and the “Golden Season” of 2013/14.
He was an active participant in the Revolution of Dignity. In 2014, when Rostyslav was 19, he joined the ranks of the OSP “Azov”, where he studied sniper skills for the next three years. From the first days of the full-scale war, “Dzhery” returned to the front. First, he joined the 4th battalion of the special forces NGU. In December 2022, he transferred to the 3rd Special Operations Forces Regiment.
On December 28, 2023, during a combat encounter with the enemy in the city of Avdiivka (Donetsk region). He was awarded the Order of “For Courage” III class.
— We are very grateful to the “Tribune of Heroes,” which brought us together, — noted the civil partner of Rostyslav Tereshchenko, Yaryna Herashchenko. — This is part of our football family. We greatly appreciate that we can continue the passions of our deceased loved ones, including my dear Rostyslav, who has been part of the fan movement since 2011 and tremendously loved being in the sector. He shared his trip stories and away games with great pleasure. For me, it is now important to continue what he loved, not only for myself but also for all the families of the fallen warriors. We come precisely to continue the work of our loved ones.
The journey was easy; we came from Kyiv, walked around evening Lublin, and also had a tour during the day. We are very grateful to the organizers for this opportunity to get to know the city that has become home for our favorite club during this season’s European matches.
FC Dynamo supported the initiative materially and morally: the club fully provided transport, accommodation, meals, and tickets for the match. Families stayed in a hotel located a 10-minute walk from the stadium, in comfortable rooms overlooking the stadium. They watched the match from a convenient VIP area. Additionally, the club created a space where memory and support coexist.
We thank the “Tribune of Heroes” foundation for their important mission — supporting the families of deceased fans. We appreciate every similar initiative as memory binds the club, the community, and generations.
Together, we form new values: to be close to those who supported and to those who now hold the memory.
“Dynamo” is not just about football, it is about unity, respect, support, and help.