Violinist David Yakushyn Killed in Action while Serving in Ukraine War

The young violinist had only recently finished his studies at the Kyiv Municipal Academy of Music

It has been confirmed that the young Ukrainian violinist David Yakushyn recently lost his life while serving for his country in the Russo-Ukraine War.

Yakushyn was still a student when the Russian invasion of Ukraine began. He graduated from the R. Glier Kyiv Municipal Academy of Music in mid-2022, having enrolled there four years earlier.

He then volunteered to serve in the territorial defense division of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He and his fellow soldiers served mainly in the Eastern part of the country.

Yakushyn took his violin to the front with him, and regularly played for the other soldiers to help keep their spirits up. A recording of his performance of the Ukrainian anthem at the front was widely circulated on social media.

His mother, Oksana Yakushyn, confirmed and commemorated his death by sharing a recording of the young Yakushyn leading a group of youth string players.

"My colleagues admired his talent," wrote an acquaintance of Yakushyn's mother on social media. "Everyone had a video of David playing the Ukrainian anthem somewhere in the East. My husband used to talk about his comrade-in-arms and show me the video."