Bohdan M. Khodakivskyi (Khodak)

Soldier Bohdan Khodakivskyi (call sign Khodak) was killed on May 15, 2023 near the village of Ivanivske in the Donetsk region. During the performance of a combat mission, he came under enemy mortar fire and received fatal injuries. Two months before this, the defender turned 23 years old. Bohdan was from the city of Uzyn in the Kyiv region. He graduated from the Bila Tserkva Mechanical and Energy Technical School of the State Emergency Service, and obtained the qualification of an electric gas welder. He worked at a furniture factory in the village of Chupyra in the Kyiv region. He was involved in sports, in particular athletics. He was the winner and medalist of various pole vault competitions. When the full-scale invasion began, the man voluntarily joined the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to defend his home. He fought in the ranks of the 24th separate assault battalion "Aydar" of the 53rd Separate Mechanized Brigade. He held the position of a sniper-rifleman. Together with his comrades-in-arms, he defended the Bakhmut direction. "Bohdan was the best: a loving son and brother, a faithful and reliable friend, a courageous and devoted comrade, a great patriot of his country. You are our pride, our honor! Eternal memory and glory to the Hero! I am proud of my brother Bohdan, his courage, and his strength of spirit. Bohdan did everything and even more," wrote his sister. The defender was buried in his hometown. Bohdan is survived by his parents Mykola and Iryna, sister Yuliia, relatives, friends, and comrades-in-arms.