Kotlyar Yevhen Mykolayovych is a graduate of Kharkiv National University of Radio Electronics, studied at the Faculty of Computer Engineering and Management in 1998-2002, received a basic higher education in Computer Engineering, and received a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering. Hero of Ukraine, active participant of Euromaidan, member of Maidan Self-Defense.
Eugene was born on April 14, 1980 in Kharkiv. He graduated from pedagogical lyceum № 4, music school with a degree in violin. He was a man of active life position, believed in the best, fought for truth and idea. He loved to travel in his native Slobozhanshchyna, conquered the peaks of the Carpathians and Crimea. During 2010-2013 he took part in environmental and political protests in Kharkiv, in particular in public protests against the illegal felling of Gorky Park. A heightened sense of justice led him to the environmental organization Green Front, and when the Maidan began, he could not stay away. When asked why he was going there, Eugene replied: “I grew up in this country; I love it and will fight for it”. He spent almost the whole winter with a short break on the Maidan, was in the third hundred. He spent nights on the Maidan, was on duty at barricades, carried the wounded and dead. Covering the wounded Kharkiv resident Vladyslav Zubenko with a shield, at 9.55 he was severely wounded in the neck and then in the thigh. He died tragically on February 20, 2014 on Institutska Street from a sniper bullet. He was 33 years old. He was buried on February 23 in the city cemetery № 17 in Kharkiv.
Yevhen Kotlyar, like all Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred, was awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine with the Order of the Golden Star (posthumously) for civic courage, patriotism, heroic defense of the constitutional principles of democracy, human rights and freedoms, selfless service to the Ukrainian people dignity. For sacrifice and love for Ukraine he was awarded the medal “God and Ukraine with us” and a badge for outstanding contribution to the liberation of Ukraine from anti-people power during the events of Maidan in 2013-2014 (posthumously).
In Kharkiv, in the Kholodnohirsky district, near the railway station, Eugene Kotlyar Street is located.
On September 15, 2015, a memorial plaque was unveiled in the lobby on the 2nd floor in NURE, and on February 19, 2016, a memorial plaque to Yevhen Kotlyar was installed on the building of the main building of NURE. A permanent exposition dedicated to the Hero of Ukraine has been opened in the Museum of History of NURE.
Yevhen Kotlyar was strong, courageous, worthy and gave the most valuable thing – his life in the struggle for the European future, defending the freedom, rights and honor of the Ukrainian people. Eternal memory to him!