Ivan M. Vaipan (Dunai)

Master Sergeant Ivan Vaipan (call sign Dunai) was killed on August 14, 2022, in a battle near the village of Berestove in the Donetsk region. While performing a combat mission, he received fatal injuries during an enemy artillery shelling. On July 22, the defender turned 48 years old. Ivan was born in the village of Dibrivka, Chernivtsi region. He stu at a local school. He graduated from the Hlyboky Vocational Technical School and served his conscript service in the National Guard of Ukraine. Later, he worked in his native village, in the "Bukovyna" company. According to the recollections of relatives, he was a loving husband and a very caring grandfather. He was respected by fellow villagers, as he was kind and always ready to help. In 2015, the man stood up to defend the Motherland. As part of the 10th Separate Mountain Assault Brigade, he participated in the ATO/JFO. During the full-scale war, he held the position of master sergeant of the anti-aircraft missile battery of the anti-aircraft missile artillery division. During his service, Ivan was repeatedly awarded by the command with awards, in 2021 he was awarded the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine "Cossack Cross", and posthumously - the Order "For Courage" III degree. "Ivan was a caring and loving husband, kind and always positive. How I want to hear such confident and reassuring words again: 'Don't worry, everything will be fine'... Husband, brother, brother-in-law, friend and just a positive person. You will forever remain in our hearts," wrote the deceased's wife Olga. The hero was buried in his native village of Dibrivka. At home, his wife Olga, granddaughters Sofiika and Mariyka were waiting for him.