Illia V. Kryliuk (Matros)

Junior Sergeant Illia Kryliuk (call sign Sailor) was killed on November 15, 2023, in battle with the occupiers near the village of Verbove, Zaporizhzhia region. The defender was 31 years old. Illia was born in the village of Prosykuriany, Chernivtsi region. He graduated from school in the village of Hlyboka. He then obtained the profession of an electrician at the Chernivtsi Higher Vocational School of Radio Electronics. In 2011, he was drafted into the regular military service. In 2014, he began defending the Motherland from Russian aggression. He was a participant in combat operations in the ATO zone, fought in the Luhansk region, and had numerous awards. In the battles, he sustained severe injuries, underwent a long treatment, and later recovered and returned to civilian life. He got married and raised a son with his beloved. Before the invasion, he worked at the "Agro-West-Com" enterprise. With the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the man returned to the ranks of the defenders. He served in the 14th Assault Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine "Chervona Kalyna". He underwent training in Ukraine and the United Kingdom. He held the position of platoon sergeant. "I am the wife of a Hero of Ukraine who gave his life for our independent country. In 2014, together with his comrades-in-arms, he held back the invaders in Luhansk, and after a severe injury, he remained in reserve. On February 24, 2022, without leaving his Motherland in difficult times, he was one of the first to go to defend our peace with you. But, unfortunately, we are losing the best who are ready to go to the end for our future," wrote Lilia Shvets. "Cheerful, kind, always ready to help - with a deed or advice. He had already had to fight, recover after severe injuries. Despite this, Illia Kryliuk without hesitation went to defend the Motherland from the enemy," the community noted. The warrior was buried in the village of Slobidka, Chernivtsi region. At home, Illia was awaited by his parents, brother, wife, and son. On February 16, 2024, a memorial plaque to the hero was installed on the facade of the gymnasium in the village of Hlyboka.