Andrii Yu. Tkachuk (Berkut)

Captain Andriy Tkachuk (call sign Berkut) was killed while carrying out a combat mission in the vicinity of the village of Dmytrivka in the Kyiv region. The 25-year-old officer defended the capital and the region from Russian occupiers until his last breath. Andriy was born in the village of Bilohorodka in Khmelnytskyi region. After school, he chose the path of a military man. In 2018, he graduated from the National Academy of Ground Forces named after Hetman Petro Sahaidachny. After graduation, the young officer went on to serve. He participated in the Joint Forces Operation. He was awarded the Commander's Badge of the Joint Forces "Cossack Cross" II and III degrees. He also received a wristwatch from the President of Ukraine. During the full-scale war, Andriy defended Ukraine from the occupiers as part of the 14th Separate Mechanized Brigade named after Prince Roman the Great. He was the commander of the 2nd company and as a true combat officer, he personally participated in battles. Captain Tkachuk was considered missing for almost 5 months. Only in August were his relatives able to lay him to rest. "People like Andriy do not fade into oblivion, he will live in our memory and hearts. Honest, fair, kind, worthy son of his country. He would have conquered many more heights with his perseverance and heroism. I am proud of my Hero," said his wife, Ivanna. "This is an irreparable loss for the family, relatives, comrades-in-arms, fellow villagers, and our entire community. At this difficult time, we offer our sincere condolences to the warrior's relatives and share your pain and bow our heads in deep mourning," said the Iziaslav City Council. Andriy Tkachuk was buried in his native village. The defender is survived by his mother, sisters, brother, wife Ivanna, and son Danilo, who was born in 2021.