Oleh O. Vasiuk (Batia)

Parents live in Ostro, Chernihiv region. He met his wife Olena through Olena's classmate Svitlana, who later became a witness at their wedding and the godmother of their son Oleksiy. He served in a military unit at the military prosecutor's office of the then Kyiv Suvorov Military School (now Bohun Military Lyceum). He was demobilized in June and got married in October. He worked in Ostro at a recreation base in a resort town. He played music at the disco in the cultural center. After his service, he got a job as a locksmith at a bread factory. Then, together with his father, he worked for over 6 years as a long-distance truck driver with his own KamAZ. He transported goods, including to Donbas. Later, he held the position of driver at the construction company "Strong Center," transporting the manager. They mostly built in Obolon. Since 2008, he went into taxi driving and worked for himself. He loved being independent and did not like being "overloaded." He was very satisfied with his independent work. A summons came for Alyosha, the elder son, who had not yet turned 18. Oleg took this summons and went to the military enlistment office. He returned and said he had signed up as a volunteer. On May 13, right after the long May holidays, he left for the training center "Desna" with his belongings. After arriving in mid-June in the village of Orikhove, Starobilsk district, Luhansk region, Oleg and his unit accompanied convoys from Kharkiv, including from Izium, to the front line for several weeks. Then, from mid-July, he was stationed at a large stronghold near the village of Vesela Hora. From Vesela Hora to the outskirts of Luhansk is 4 km. He conducted surveillance and provided security and defense. The family learned from the internet and television that Oleg was not at the training ground but in Luhansk region. From there, he called his wife and mother every other day. He struggled with the first loss in the battalion — the death of Oleksandr Shyshko, lamenting that young people were dying. This despite the fact that Oleg himself was strong in character. On September 10, 2014, after the shelling of Dmytrivka, he went on a 10-day leave. He returned with his combat comrade Vitalik Polonsky in a car for the army. Oleg was transporting military uniforms for the wounded and relatives of the soldiers. Oleg's grandfather was a partisan during World War II. However, the soldier did not consider participating in the war to be heroism. He loved to cook and relax in nature. Volodymyr Kukhar: "I had to go and talk to Oleg literally a day before his tragic death in that same unfortunate vehicle. Another true warrior, Vitaliy Polonsky, who was soon to turn 31, also died in it. The guys died a day before the battalion was to go on the long-awaited first rotation in half a year. Oleg had undeniable authority among the soldiers. In a male collective, especially such a diverse one as the army, this is quite valuable! He loved to joke and tease his colleagues. Sometimes he played pranks. Like a true soldier, he carried a minimum of things with him — only the essentials. And he did not like to take photos (it's a pity we can't find any military photos now). As cliché as it sounds, he had an acute sense of justice. He loved independence and freedom. His wife was left to raise two wonderful sons, each of whom resembles their father in their own way."