"HAMP"

21-year-old defender of Mariupol Artur Saveliev, callsign Hamp, was killed on 2 March 2022 while defending the city against Russian occupiers. Artur was born and lived his entire life in the city of Odesa. He studied at the Odesa National Academy of Food Technologies, majoring in Hotel and Restaurant Business. He was a wise person who read a lot. He was especially interested in history, scientific literature, and philosophy. In his free time, he devoted himself to friends and gatherings, where he enjoyed playing the guitar. He also did sports. He had an active civic stance. Later, he joined the Azov Regiment of the National Guard of Ukraine. He served as a senior machine gunner in a grenade launcher squad. From the first days of the full-scale invasion, Hamp and his unit defended the city of Mariupol in Donetchyna. “Artur was a very bright person—kind and open. With a good sense of humor, like a true Odessan. An incredibly interesting conversationalist. When you came to him for advice, you understood that you would definitely find an answer in his words. The life of the party—it felt like he drew people in with his charisma. And most importantly, he was a true patriot of his country! He believed in it and did everything so that it would be independent and flourishing. And he gave it the most precious thing—his life,” his mother Diana said. The whereabouts of the defender’s body are still unknown. His mother provided a DNA sample and is awaiting the results, hoping very much that she will be able to give her hero a достойне farewell. Senior Soldier Saveliev was posthumously awarded the Order “For Courage,” 3rd Class. Artur is survived by his parents, a younger sister, and a fiancée.