Ihor O. Vashchuk

Born on June 19, 1994, in the village of Velyka Khaycha, Ovruch district, Zhytomyr region. In 2009, he graduated from the 9th grade of secondary school No. 4 in the city of Ovruch, and in 2013 - from the Malyn Forestry College in the city of Malyn, Zhytomyr region. From July 22, 2013, he served under contract in the 95th Separate Airborne Brigade of the High Mobility Airborne Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (military unit A0281, city of Zhytomyr). From March 2014, he served at checkpoints in the Kherson region on the administrative border with the occupied Autonomous Republic of Crimea by Russian troops. From April 23, 2014, he participated in the anti-terrorist operation in eastern Ukraine. From May to June 2014, he was on Mount Karachun, on the outskirts of the city of Sloviansk. Since the beginning of June 2014, as part of the company-tactical group of the 95th Separate Airborne Brigade, he served at checkpoint No. 1, near the village of Myrne in the Sloviansk district of Donetsk region. On June 26, 2014, around 19:30, Russian-terrorist groups, supported by several tanks, began an assault on checkpoint No. 1. During the battle, soldier Vashchuk continued to fire at the enemy with a large-caliber machine gun until an enemy tank hit his armored personnel carrier. Also in this battle, Sergeant Kogan, Senior Soldier Dobryansky, and Reserve Soldier Hulyk were killed. On July 2, 2014, he was buried in the cemetery of the village of Velyka Khaycha, Ovruch district, Zhytomyr region. On September 17, 2014, a memorial plaque was unveiled in the city of Ovruch on the facade of secondary school No. 4 (Prince Oleg Street, 11), where Ihor Vashchuk studied.