Eduard “Opasnyi” Kostrytsya is a fan of the football club “Dynamo” (Kyiv).
Eduard Olegovich Kostrytsya was born on July 19, 1992 in Kiev, and his family comes from the village of Kornin (Zhytomyr region). He studied at school number 156, after which he continued his studies at the National Transport University. From an early age he was keen on sports, played for the school football team. He was interested in the history of Kiev, from a young age he tried to visit as many places of the capital as possible, where he had not been before.
Teammates say that “Opasny” began to be interested in the football movement primarily because of the love for Kyiv. He met many representatives of the Dynamo fan movement at training, or directly during MMA competitions.
In civilian life, Edward worked in retail companies in positions related to the logistics of goods. But most of his free time he devoted to sports, namely contact martial arts. He was a pet of BC “Phoenix”, where he came to get fit. But over time, the training process so captivated Edward that he decided to make it the business of his life.
In the club, he prepared and performed at competitions, was engaged in the upbringing and training of young people. Friends recall Edward's hard work and dedication in training, as well as his ability to communicate and communicate his opinion to others. Represented Ukraine at international competitions of the highest level. He won the MMA World Cup 2021 in the minimum weight category at the competition in Prague, Czech Republic.
Edward's list of sporting achievements and awards is truly extensive:
2018 - silver medalist of the Ukrainian BZH Championship;
2018 - Champion of Ukraine in Pancration in the “full” section;
2018 - bronze medalist of the Ukrainian Grappling Championship;
2018 - bronze medalist of the Ukrainian Mixed Martial Arts Championship MMA;
2019 - Champion of Ukraine in Mixed Martial Arts MMA;
2019 - silver medalist of the European MMA Championship;
2019 - silver medalist of the Ukrainian MMA Cup, giving the championship to his youngest friend;
2020 - silver medalist of the Ukrainian Pancration Championship in the “full” section;
2021 - Champion of Ukraine in Mixed Martial Arts MMA;
2021 - winner of the MMA World Cup.
In January 2022, he was scheduled to perform at the World Mixed Martial Arts Championship in Abu Dhabi, preparing daily and hard for the performance. But after arriving in the capital of the UAE, he passed a positive test for covid and was unable to participate in the competition. This ordeal was one of the most difficult for Edward in his career. According to the memories of the girl Valeria, he accepted this situation and ended up going through this difficult moment, planning to participate in the next World Cup.
In addition to sporting achievements, “Opasny” had an unsurpassed sense of humor. He blogged on his instagram page and quickly found new connoisseurs of his work, having a unique and recognizable style of jokes, unlike other bloggers.
With the outbreak of a full-scale war, he joined the ranks of the district TRO, stood at checkpoints in the capital. Subsequently, he joined the ranks of the SS “Azov-Kiev”, on the basis of which the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade was later created. Edward served as part of the 2nd Mechanized Battalion, where by that time there were already most of his close friends.
After long training, the unit was sent to Donbass, where fierce fighting for the city of Bakhmut took place. “Opasny” was a scout in the 3rd OSHR, and already being at the front and performing combat tasks - he protected his relatives, saying at home that he was in Rivne.
Eduard Kostrica was killed on January 23, 2023 in battle with the enemy near N.P. Klishyivka, as a result of direct interference with the registry office. In that battle, his friend and teammate Valentin “Abu” Dem'yanenko also played. Buried in his native village of Kornin. He was awarded the Order “For Courage” of the 3rd degree (posthumously).
In November 2023, the Open Cup of Kyiv and Kyiv Region in Mixed Martial Arts MMA, dedicated to the memory of Eduard Kostrica, was held. The competition was organized by his girlfriend Valeria together with the National Mixed Martial Arts Federation MMA of Ukraine. More than 100 athletes of all ages participated in the tournament.
