Bohdan O. Lytvynchuk (Kinzhal)

24-year-old senior lieutenant Bohdan Lytvynchuk (call sign Dagger) was killed on October 13, 2022, near Bakhmut in Donetsk region during an enemy artillery shelling. Bohdan was born in the city of Novograd-Volynskyi in the Zhytomyr region. He studied diligently at the local Gymnasium No. 9. At the same time, he learned to play the piano at a music school. Later, he obtained an education at an agroecological college and earned a master's degree at Zhytomyr National University in the specialty of "Organization Management." He also completed a military department at the Zhytomyr Military Institute named after Serhiy Korolyov. Immediately after graduation, in May 2020, Bohdan decided that he wanted to serve in the military and signed a contract with the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Since then, he carried out combat missions in the area of the Joint Forces Operation in Donetsk region for 9 months. The young officer commanded a platoon. With the beginning of the full-scale invasion, from February 27, 2022, he continued to defend Ukraine from Russian occupiers in Chernihiv and Sumy regions. Bohdan was promoted to senior lieutenant and commanded a company. In May 2022, he went to carry out combat missions in Bakhmut. He never returned from there. "My only son paid a high price for our peaceful future. 'For life — to death!' is written on the patch of my fearless warrior, senior lieutenant, commander of the reconnaissance support company, who himself went into battle with the enemy, setting an example for others. I would very much like everyone to realize that there is war in the country. And this means death and tears, it means destroyed and crippled destinies. So, have respect and honor for those who saved yours at the cost of their own lives. 'For life — to death.' Remember!" said the soldier's mother. The officer was buried in his hometown. Bohdan is survived only by his mother, who raised him alone. Senior lieutenant Bohdan Lytvynchuk was posthumously awarded the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytskyi III degree. A memorial plaque in his honor was unveiled on the wall of Gymnasium No. 9.