Ihor A. Bondarchuk (Blondyn)

Ihor Anatoliyovych Bondarchuk was born on September 1, 1989, in the village of Nova Obodivka, Haisyn district, Vinnytsia region. After finishing school, he enrolled in the Vinnytsia College of Culture and Arts named after Mykola Leontovych, specializing in "Musical Art." At the end of 2008, he was drafted into the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The young man enjoyed military life so much that he decided not to continue his career as a musician and enrolled in the National Academy of Internal Affairs. This marked the beginning of a new chapter in his life. He started working in the KORD (Special Operations Police) of the Main Directorate of the National Police in Vinnytsia region in 2018. Getting into the elite unit was not easy, but he succeeded. Determined, motivated, active, and stress-resistant — he was impossible to overlook. "I have known Ihor since 2007," recalls his colleague from KORD, Roman. "It was he who inspired me to try to pass the survival course and various training sessions to become one of the special forces. And we succeeded. But what connects us with Ihor is not just work. When my daughter was born, I happily asked him to be her godfather." In 2020, the police officer was awarded a certificate for saving a human life. While off duty, Ihor inadvertently became a witness to a man falling into a construction pit. It turned out that the stranger had a heart attack. Without hesitation, the police officer rushed to help him. He pulled the man out, provided first aid, and called an ambulance. Ihor Bondarchuk actively engaged in various sports, participated in championships in sambo and hand-to-hand combat, and was a master of sports in bench pressing. He met his beloved Karina on social networks. He reacted to any of her new posts so that she would notice him. And she did notice and wrote to him. From their first meeting, they never parted again. Eventually, they got married, and the couple had a daughter, Milanka. "He was the best father, my love, support, and rock," says his wife. "With him, I was confident every day; I was happy. We did everything together; we were one whole. We had shared dreams and plans." Like every family, the Bondarchuks had their own traditions, but with the birth of their daughter, there was one more. Every year on Dad's birthday, little Milanka helped him blow out the candles on the cake. Friends fondly remember Ihor and share their memories with sadness. For them, he was a cool athlete, musician, and true friend, with whom it was always fun and interesting. On May 22, the officer died defending Ukraine from Russian invaders during a missile strike in the Zaporizhzhia region. For his conscientious attitude to the performance of official duties, determination and courage, professionalism, and impeccable service to the Ukrainian people, Ihor Bondarchuk was awarded the "For Participation in ATO" badge and the "10 Years of Conscientious Service" medal. In March 2022, for his high professionalism and dedication to service, he was prematurely awarded the rank of "Senior Police Lieutenant." The Order of "For Courage" of the III degree, which was posthumously awarded to Senior Police Lieutenant Ihor Anatoliyovych Bondarchuk, was received by his parents Anatoliy Ivanovych and Halyna Vasylivna, as well as his wife Karina.