Bohdan V. Bratanov (Udar)

Captain Bohdan Bratanov (call sign Udar) was killed on June 27, 2023, while carrying out a combat mission near the village of Pryyutne in the Zaporizhzhia region. The defender was only 34 years old. Bohdan was born in the village of Rudenkovka, Poltava region. He was passionate about boxing from a young age and attended a children's and youth sports school. He repeatedly became a prizewinner in regional boxing championships. In 2011, he graduated from the Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University in Kharkiv. Until 2015, he worked in the prosecutor's office of the Kyiv region. When the Russian-Ukrainian war began in 2014, Bohdan joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He participated in the Anti-Terrorist Operation, holding the position of deputy commander of the company for moral and psychological support. After two years, he demobilized and changed his activities from prosecutorial to advocacy. The officer returned to the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on March 11, 2022, to protect his homeland and family from the war. In the 23rd Separate Mechanized Brigade, he went from platoon commander to battalion commander. He took part in battles in the Kharkiv and Donetsk regions. During his entire period of service, the military was awarded the following decorations: "For Exemplary Service", "Participant of the Anti-Terrorist Operation", and "For the Defense of the Native State". "Bohdan was kind, cheerful and witty for his friends, loving and reliable for his wife and son, caring for his parents and brother. He will forever remain in our hearts," said his wife, Victoria. The officer was buried in his native village. Bohdan is survived by his parents, brother, wife, and son. He was posthumously promoted to the rank of major and awarded the Order of Courage of the III degree.