Ivan M. Levchuk (Teacher)

Soldier Ivan Levchuk (call sign Teacher) was killed on June 24, 2023 near the village of Rozdolivka in the Donetsk region. While carrying out a combat mission, he saved his comrades and received fatal injuries as a result of enemy mortar and artillery shelling. In May, the warrior turned 25 years old. Ivan was born and lived in the Vinnytsia region. After school, he entered the Vinnytsia State Pedagogical University named after Mykhailo Kotsiubynskyi, at the Faculty of Physical Education and Sports. Even in his first year of study, he equipped a home gym, which was eagerly visited by children from the entire village, and he was a coach there. After graduating, he worked as a physical education teacher at his native school. Ivan was completely dedicated to his work. He was respected by his colleagues and adored by his students, even those he did not teach. He had a very good voice, so no concert took place without him performing songs about parents and Ukraine. Everyone said that Ivan had a God-given talent. In the first days of the full-scale war, he served in the battalion of the honorary guard of the separate Presidential Brigade named after Hetman Bohdan Khmelnytskyi, which was one of the first to defend the capital at the beginning of the invasion. After signing a contract, he later voluntarily transferred to the 4th mechanized battalion of his brigade and began defending Ukraine. "The words of my brother will be forever etched in my mind: 'Who, if not me, should defend our motherland...' Ivan lived only 25 years, but he lived them worthily! It is impossible to convey in words how bright a person our Vanyusha was. We have always been and will continue to be amazed by his justice, honesty, patriotism, courage, and determination. When he transferred to the 4th mechanized battalion, he knew exactly what he was going into, but even that did not stop him, because there were the same words: 'Who, if not me...' Ivan was a kind and sociable guy, he supported, helped, and gave advice. He became an older brother and mentor to many," said the fallen warrior's cousin Valentyna Bezpalko. The courageous defender was buried in his native village. Ivan is survived by his parents Mykola and Natalia, younger sister Natalia, beloved girlfriend Anastasia, many relatives, friends, and loyal comrades-in-arms.