Bohdan M. Zalavskyi (Bodia)

Junior Sergeant Bohdan Zalavskyi (call sign Bodia) was killed on June 3, 2023 in the Kyiv military hospital. On May 17, the soldier, while carrying out a combat mission in the area of the settlement of Novosilske in the Luhansk region, came under mortar enemy fire and received multiple shrapnel wounds. He was forever 48 years old. Bohdan was born in the city of Magadan (Russia). Since childhood, he lived in the Zaporizhia region. He went to school in the settlement of Balabyne, and completed his studies in Zaporizhia. Later, he obtained the profession of a repair mechanic at a vocational school. He served his conscription military service at the Desna center in the Chernihiv region. After the army, he worked at the Zaporizhia Electric Locomotive Repair Plant. Throughout his life, he was passionate about fishing, for which he had all the necessary equipment - some of which he even made himself. He also had a hobby - he made furniture with his own hands. At home, he made everything himself: chairs, cabinets, tables, etc. With the start of the full-scale war, the man decided to defend Ukraine and his family. Bohdan became a serviceman of the 92nd separate mechanized brigade named after the Otaman Ivan Sirko. He held the position of squad commander. He took part in the defense of the Kharkiv region, for which he was awarded. "A few lines will not be enough for me to tell about dad and describe how much I miss him now... I will say one thing: I wish all children had such a dad, all girls - such a husband, all people - such a friend as he was!" - wrote Kateryna Zalavska. The courageous warrior was buried in the settlement of Balabyne, Zaporizhia region. At home, Bohdan was awaited by his wife, daughter and son.