Hryhorii M. Lapchak (Traktoryst)

53-year-old junior sergeant Hryhoriy Lapchak (call sign Tractor Driver) was killed on October 12, 2023, in the Kupiansk direction. In the battle with the enemy, he received a fatal gunshot wound. Hryhoriy was born in the village of Seredkevychi, Lviv region. He studied at the local school. Then he obtained the profession of an auto crane operator at the Uhniv Agrarian and Construction Lyceum. He served his military service in Kazakhstan. In civilian life, he worked as a driver of special equipment. With the beginning of the full-scale war, on February 26, 2022, the man joined the ranks of volunteers. He fought as part of the 103rd separate brigade of the territorial defense. At first, he was a squad commander, and then a driver-gunner. He defended Bakhmut in the Donetsk region, and then carried out combat missions in the Kharkiv region. In May 2023, he was wounded, and after a short treatment, he returned to the front line again. Hryhoriy was awarded the medals "For Faithful Service" of the III degree and "Veteran of War", as well as certificates and letters of gratitude from the command. "A good family man, a loving husband, father and grandfather. A responsible and reliable comrade. A caring father. A cheerful and purposeful person. He will forever remain in our hearts and memory!" - said the son of the deceased, Ruslan. The defender was buried in the village of Birky in the Lviv region, where he lived with his family. Hryhoriy is survived by his wife Halyna, sons Ruslan and Vasyl, daughters-in-law Zoryana and Tetiana, and grandchildren Ostap and Bohdan.