A Talented Life Cut Short
Kateryna was known for her sincerity, extraordinary talent, determination, and perpetual positivity. She pursued education in both programming (at KITU College, NAU) and journalism (NAU). Her passions included athletics, yoga, skiing, and rock climbing. She first conquered the peaks of Dragobrat and Ararat, later exploring the mountains of Andorra and the Alps.
From Abroad Back to the Front
At the onset of war in March 2022, she fled abroad with her family. There, she engaged in volunteer work and held positions at the IT company EPAM across Vienna, Serbia, and Georgia. Despite having a stable job and life abroad, Kateryna chose to return to Ukraine and volunteered for the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU).
Between January and March 2024, she trained as an FPV drone operator and took the oath of allegiance to Ukraine on 21 March 2024.
Assigned to the strike UAV company of the 82nd Separate Air Assault Brigade, she achieved over 1,000 successful combat flights, participating in some of the fiercest frontline operations in Donetsk, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia regions, and the Kursk operation.
Honored in London, Lost on the Front
In 2025, Kateryna’s story was showcased by First Deputy Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament, Olena Kondratiuk, alongside General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, at the international photo exhibition “Women Defending Ukraine” in London.
Tragically, on 6 June 2025, she died during a combat mission in the Pokrovsk direction. Despite being critically wounded on 5 June, she was evacuated to Mechnikov Hospital in Dnipro, where she later succumbed to her injuries.
A Legacy Immortalized
In tribute to her memory, the musical project BoB’s Tune Hub released a song titled “Myau”, accompanied by a video clip on YouTube.
Further honoring her life and service, a page dedicated to Kateryna Troyan has been created on Wikipedia.
The Ukrainian Athletics Federation also honored Kateryna, recalling her early years in sports:
“During a combat mission on June 5, 2025, Kateryna was severely wounded. The next day she passed away at a hospital in Dnipro. She was only 32 years old. In Kyiv, she was farewelled with the words ‘honor and glory to our heroine girl.’ Kateryna trained in athletics until the end of high school under coach Iryna Pustovoit, alongside stars such as Yuliya Levchenko and Iryna Herashchenko. Her family and friends initiated a petition to award her the title Hero of Ukraine. The collection of signatures continues.”
Sign the petition →
Key Facts at a Glance:
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Name / Call Sign | Kateryna Troyan (“Myau”) |
| Dates | Returned to Ukraine post-2022; died 6 June 2025 |
| Role | FPV drone operator, 82nd Separate Air Assault Brigade |
| Achievements | Over 1,000 successful combat sorties; Frontline missions in key regions |
| Posthumous Honors | Petition launched for Hero of Ukraine; Honored at London exhibition |
| Legacy | Song “Myau” by BoB’s Tune Hub; Wikipedia entry created |