Volodymyr Giba and Volodymyr Chernysh, two accomplished motorsport drivers, have tragically lost their lives while serving in the Ukrainian military amid the ongoing Russian invasion. Chernysh was killed during an assault near the notorious frontline in Bakhmut on September 10, while Giba passed away two months later on November 13.
Giba, who participated in the Ukrainian Trophy Raid Championship during the mid-2010s, was fondly referred to as the Zaporizhzhia Cossack. He competed in the TR1 and Tourism-Hard categories with a GAZ-69, a military off-road vehicle from the Soviet era. In addition to his racing endeavors, Giba co-founded MIDA, a shoe manufacturing company in Zaporizhzhia specializing in winter, casual, and athletic footwear made from cow leather. As the commercial director, he also served on the board of the Ukrainian Association of Light Industry Enterprises (UKRLEGPROM), which primarily focuses on textile and footwear production. Following Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, Giba joined the Ukrainian military to defend his homeland.
The Chair of UKRLEGPROM, Tatiana Izovit, expressed her admiration for Giba’s commitment, stating, From the first days of the full-scale aggression of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Giba stood up for the defense of our State. In 2021-2022, he was an active member of the Board of UKLEGPROM, consistently advocating for the development of domestic light industry. He was an incredibly positive, professional, balanced person who was in love with life!
Vadim Pritulyak, a veteran of the Dakar Rally and Giba’s colleague, expressed his grief, saying, There are no words… The Zaporizhzhia Cossack has left.
Chernysh, known for his success as a kart racer, grew up with a passion for motorsport and achieved notable accomplishments in the national Ukrainian Karting Trophy. His achievements earned him the title of Master of Sport of Ukraine. Chernysh joined the Territorial Defense Forces on February 26, 2022, just two days after the invasion began. He was later assigned to the 3rd Assault Brigade, where he served as a driver. Chernysh, also working as a manager at Red Bull Ukraine, had the callsign of Red Bull.
The funeral for Chernysh took place in his hometown of Poltava on September 27. In tribute to his memory, a petition was initiated to change the name of a street in his honor.
The Russian invasion, which has continued for 641 days, has led to a wide-scale mobilization of the Ukrainian population, including members of the motorsport community. Other competitors in Giba and Chernysh’s discipline who have tragically lost their lives in service include Andriy Gusev, the 2014 Trophy Raid champion, kart racer Kyrylo Demidov, and Mykhailo Kravchenko, a member of the Automobile Federation of Ukraine’s Karting Committee.
The loss of these two talented racers serves as a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by Ukrainian troops in their fight against the Russian invasion. Their untimely deaths have left a void in the motorsport community, leaving friends, colleagues, and fans mourning their tragic departure. As we pay tribute to their memory, their bravery and dedication will forever be remembered.
