Pavlo was born on July 5, 1996 in the village of Koziivka, Krasnokutsk, now Bogodukhov district, Kharkiv region. In 2011, he graduated from the 9th grade of Koziivka secondary school, and then studied at the agricultural lyceum in the city of Krasnokutsk. There he received the profession of a tractor driver. Since childhood, he was fascinated by world history, the past of Ukraine, and the traditions of his native land. He took an active part in school Olympiads and was always among the winners. He was interested in numismatics. Everyone in the family was convinced that this passion would later grow into a desire to become, if not a professional historian, then at least a teacher. But after graduating from school, Pavlo chose to study at a technical lyceum, but his passion for history did not leave him.
Later, the boy became interested in military affairs. «The annexation of Crimea and the events in Donbas had a huge impact on his son,» recalls Pavlo’s mother. “He tried to volunteer in the ATO zone. The military enlistment office refused. And only after graduating from high school, without waiting for a summons, did he get what he wanted: he was sent to the 169th Center in Desna. And then he served in the 36th Separate Marine Brigade named after Rear Admiral Mykhailo Bilinsky and defended Mariupol.”.
In early 2017, Pavlo signed a contract for military service in the 92nd separate mechanized brigade. Thus, for 1.5 years, he served under a contract in the 2nd tank company of the tank battalion of the brigade and lived in the military town of Bashkirivka and the city of Chuguiv. The brigade command highly appreciated Pavlo's military abilities and offered him the position of a career officer.
Since August 2018, Pavlo has been studying at the Petro Sahaidachny Lviv National Academy of the Land Forces. On March 5, 2022, he graduated early from the academy and received the rank of lieutenant during the defense of Kyiv.
After graduating, he was assigned to the newly formed 4th Separate Tank Brigade as a platoon commander. Since April 2022, the brigade's personnel, including Lieutenant Pavlo Bobrytsky's platoon, held the defense in the most difficult areas near Soledar, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and later participated in the liberation of the Kharkiv region.
Pavlo is survived by his mother, stepfather, and brother. On February 20, 2022, he proposed to his fiancée and planned a wedding.
«"Pavlo was proud of his platoon, he said that in any, even the most difficult, combat situation, he was confident in every fighter. Such a team is the key to our Victory! And not so long ago, Pavlo shared with me his plans for the future: "Mom, let's break the racist blanket, I'll enter the master's degree. And then I'll get another higher education! History, mom, it's so interesting! My son was kind, sensitive, a true comrade and a loyal friend. He had so many dreams and plans for the future, he loved life and his family," said his mother Natalya.
Circumstances of death:
On 06/05/2022, Lieutenant Pavlo Bobrytsky's platoon as part of a tank company from 7:00 a.m. performed a combat mission near the village of Husarivka, Izyumsky district, Kharkiv region. The enemy could not accept that he was losing the initiative in the war, and therefore, by intensively shelling Ukrainian units with artillery, he tried to restrain the actions of the Defense Forces of Ukraine. The tankers were tasked, together with the infantry, to prevent the enemy from further advancing in the area of the village of Husarivka. Pavlo Bobrytsky, a young lieutenant, when he saw that the company commander's tank was burning, took command of the battle and won a very difficult battle, all the crews remained alive. Except for Pavlo. Thanks to the courage and professionalism of the platoon commander, a significant number of occupiers were destroyed, and Pavlo, taking command during the battle, saved the infantry and equipment of the Ukrainian units that were conducting combat operations in the area of the village of Husarivka. The enemy advance was halted. At 1:15 p.m. during the shelling of Ukrainian positions, an anti-tank missile hit the tank of Lieutenant Pavlo Bobrytsky. He was wounded in the chest and died on the spot, the tank gunner died with him, and his comrades, including the mechanic-driver of his tank, who remained alive, continued to destroy the enemy. The officer did not live to see his 26th birthday for exactly a month. And this is an excerpt from a message on the website of the President of Ukraine during the presentation of his high award to Pavlo's family.
Pavlo Bobrytsky was buried in his native village of Koziivka, Bogodukhiv district, Kharkiv region on June 11, 2022. The name of the young officer, who loved life, his homeland so much, who was proud of it and knew its history, is now inscribed in the annals of the glorious victories of the faithful sons of Ukraine!
For personal courage and heroism shown in protecting the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, selfless service to the Ukrainian people, Pavlo Bobrytskyi was awarded the "Defender of the Fatherland" medal on July 12, 2022 by Decree of the President of Ukraine No. 493/2025. On February 21, 2025, by Decree of the President of Ukraine, he was awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine with the award of the "Golden Star". On November 1, 2025, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarded the highest state awards to Ukrainian soldiers and presented the "Golden Star" orders to the relatives of the fallen Heroes. Among them were Pavlo's mother and younger brother.
DECREE OF THE PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE No. 96/2025
On conferring the title of Hero of Ukraine on P. Bobrytsky
For personal courage and heroism shown in the defense of the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, selfless service to the Ukrainian people, I decree:
To confer the title of Hero of Ukraine with the award of the Order of the Gold Star to BOBRYTSKI Pavlo Serhiyovych – Lieutenant (posthumously).
President of Ukraine V. ZELENSKYI
February 21, 2025
DECREE OF THE PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE
No. 493/2022
About honoring with state awards of Ukraine
For personal courage and selfless actions shown in protecting the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and for loyalty to the military oath, I decree:
Award the medal "Defender of the Fatherland"«
BOBRYTSKI Pavlo Serhiyovych (posthumously) – Lieutenant
President of Ukraine V. ZELENSKYI
July 12, 2022
https://krkut.gov.ua/selrada/mem-geroiv/bobr – link to a video dedicated to the memory of Pavlo Bobrytsky
https://www.facebook.com/valeria.solovej.547702/videos/460429703665021?idorvanity=1046224872810264 – link to a video dedicated to the memory of Pavlo Bobrytsky.
On August 8, 2025, by Decision of the Krasnokutsk Village Council No. 7459-VIII, the title of "Honorary Citizen of the Krasnokutsk Village Territorial Community" was awarded (posthumously). The high award of the territorial community was received by the parents of the deceased Hero of Ukraine.
