Ivan V. Benitskyi (Farmatseft)

21-year-old paratrooper Ivan Benitsky (call sign Pharmacist) was killed on May 11, 2023 near the village of Ivanivske in the Donetsk region. During the assault, he received a fatal gunshot wound to the temple. Ivan was born in the village of Vakhnivtsi, Khmilnytskyi region. He studied at the Zelenovurylovets school. He then obtained a veterinary degree at the Kamianets-Podilskyi College of Agriculture. After completing his studies, he went on military service under contract with the Armed Forces of Ukraine. During the full-scale Russian invasion, Ivan served in the 80th separate air assault brigade. Together with his brothers-in-arms, he defended the Bakhmut direction. "Vanya was a very good person. You could always rely on him. He fought for justice and for a peaceful life for his little daughter and his family. I am proud of him and I really want him not to be forgotten and to remember every hero who was killed defending us," said the wife of the fallen. The young hero was buried in his native village. Ivan is survived by his grandmother Yevdokia, grandfather Mykola, brother Stanislav, wife Yulia and daughter Rosa. Posthumously, soldier Ivan Benitsky was awarded the Order of Courage of the III degree.