Andrii T. Ilkiv (Providnyk)

Junior Sergeant Andrii Ilkiv (call sign Leader) was killed on September 16, 2023, while carrying out a combat mission near the village of Novodarivka in the Zaporizhzhia region. On August 4, the defender turned 45 years old. Andrii was from the village of Kunytsi in the Ivano-Frankivsk region, but lived in the village of Volosiv. He obtained vocational education at a vocational school. In peacetime, he mostly worked abroad. He loved to go fishing and engage in construction. When the full-scale war began, the man went to the front without hesitation for the sake of his family and the Motherland. He fought as part of the 201st separate battalion of the 102nd territorial defense brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He was the commander of a section of the anti-aircraft missile and artillery platoon of the fire support company. For his military service, he was awarded the distinctions "For Bravery in Combat", "Veteran of War" and "Unbreakable Heroes of the Russian-Ukrainian War" (posthumously). "Dad was a real, unbreakable, immortal warrior. He always helped everyone, never looked for easy ways. He was always cheerful and open. I was the only daughter, whom dad was always proud of, dreamed of a better life after the victory in our free, peaceful country. He had grandiose plans for life, but, unfortunately, the damned war erased everything... He lived by the principle that a true commander must go first into battle and leave last, because the commander is a father to his soldiers! How much we miss you... Our dear, blue-winged dove... Rest in peace with God..." wrote Victoria Ilkiv. The defender was buried in the village of Volosiv in the Ivano-Frankivsk region. Andrii left behind his parents, wife and daughter.