Ivan K. Kovtun (Bandit)

Senior soldier Ivan Kovtun (call sign Bandit) was killed on November 30, 2023, while carrying out a combat mission near the village of Kamianske in the Zaporizhia region. The soldier was 38 years old. Ivan was from the village of Yasnohorivka in the Rivne region. He received a secondary education. After getting married, he lived with his family in the village of Yaryniвka. In peacetime, he worked as a long-distance truck driver. In June 2019, the man signed a contract with the Armed Forces of Ukraine and went to war. He served in the 128th Separate Mountain Assault Transcarpathian Brigade. In 2023, he was transferred to the fire support company of the motorized infantry battalion "Bears". He was awarded the medal "Veteran of the War". "Dad was a very kind person with an extraordinarily big heart. He was always ready to help and support. All his life he said how much he loved Ukraine and that he was not afraid to die for his Homeland. Dad left a very big mark in the hearts of the people who knew him, because such a person as he is hard to forget. He always wanted Ukraine to be a free and independent state, and our whole family will make every effort to make his wish come true. He will live forever in our hearts, and we will not let anyone forget him," Margarita Kovtun said. The warrior was buried next to his mother's grave in his native village. Ivan is survived by his father, four brothers, two sisters, his wife and three daughters.