Illia S. Tretiak (Mykhailovych)

22-year-old machine gunner Ilya Tretyak (call sign Mykhailovych) was killed on September 5, 2022, while performing a combat mission in Mykolaiv region. During the shelling, the defender received a fatal wound while shielding his comrade. A fragment passed under the bulletproof vest and entered directly into the soldier's heart. Ilya was originally from Kremenchuk in the Poltava region. He graduated from the local gymnasium No. 5, enrolled in university but did not manage to complete it. He loved his parents, friends, cats, Ukraine, and techno music. He was passionate about computer graphics and new research. He was supposed to go abroad for studies but became fascinated with military affairs. In 2019, the young man decided to defend Ukraine and signed a contract for military service with the 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade named after King Daniel. During the full-scale war, Ilya, along with his comrades, continued to defend the homeland in hot spots on the front line. In the summer, he sustained a serious head injury. He underwent two surgeries, with doctors first installing a plastic plate and then a titanium one in place of a part of his frontal bone. Without waiting for the wound to fully heal, he returned to the front line. “He was a really great person. He loved cats, friends, music, and Ukraine. He learned medicine online. A medic who had no formal education but mastered the complex science through his own efforts. One can only guess how many lives he saved,” said his friend Valeria. Senior soldier Ilya Tretyak was buried at the Svyshtov Cemetery in his hometown of Kremenchuk. Ilya is survived by his parents and his beloved girlfriend.