Ivan L. Bilyi (Bil)

27-year-old Junior Sergeant Ivan Bilyi (call sign Bil) was killed on April 16, 2023 near the village of Shcherbaky in the Zaporizhia region. During the performance of a combat mission, he received fatal injuries as a result of enemy mortar shelling. Ivan was born and lived in the village of Viitivtsi, Khmilnytskyi region. He graduated from the Viitivtsi secondary school and the Volochysk Industrial and Agricultural Vocational Lyceum No. 5. He had many plans for life. He loved Ukraine very much. That is why, at the beginning of the full-scale invasion, he volunteered and went to the military enlistment office and began to defend his native country. He served in the 128th Separate Mountain Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He held the position of commander of the machine gun section of the fire support company. He fought on various hot fronts. His last battle took place near Zaporizhia. "Ivan was a kind, bright and fair person with a great sense of humor. He never did any harm, had many friends. Always smiling, such a simple and sincere guy. There are very few people like him now. Ivan will forever remain 27. Forever in our hearts," said Zoriana, the fallen warrior's friend. The defender was buried in his native village. Ivan is survived by his mother, older brother, daughter, relatives and friends.