Yuriy Ruf (Ukrainian: Юрій Руф), real name Yuriy Romanovych Dadak (Ukrainian: Юрій Романович Дадак; 26 September 1980 – 1 April 2022) was a Ukrainian poet, writer, scientist, public figure, and founder of a literary project "Dukh Natsiyi [uk]" ("Nation's spirit").

Yuriy Ruf was born in 1980 in the Ternopil region of Ukraine. His publications include "Багряна лірика" (2012), "Час Революції" (2014), and "На зламі епох" (2015).^[1] His poetry was also included in Ukrainian modern nationalist poetry compilations "Голос крові" (2013), and "Відлуння свинцевих громовиць" (2015).

Yuriy Ruf began writing poetry when he was 14 years old.^[2] He is known for his critical views toward traditional Ukrainian poetry where, according to him, Ukrainians are predominantly portrayed as poor and ill-fated.^[3] He believed such poetry lowers self-esteem and a sense of national pride. He, therefore, considered his poetry to be a type of poetic propaganda of patriotism. Fans describe his poetry as "front line lyrics", that is poetry of war and patriotism aimed at raising fighting spirit, delivering motivation, and a sense of national pride.^[4]

His most recent publication "На зламі епох" (2015) was dedicated to Ukrainian heroes of the current Russian-Ukrainian war, and contains verses honoring certain individuals, military units, Ukrainian soldiers, battles, and other wartime events.

He lived in Lviv, and was a father of two children. He was a reservist for the 24th mechanized brigade, and was killed in action during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine in Luhansk Oblast.^[5]