Serhii V. Trofymchuk (Viun)

25-year-old Lieutenant Serhiy Trofymchuk (call sign V'yun) was killed on October 30, 2022, near the village of Pavlivka in Donetsk region. The officer sustained severe shrapnel wounds while performing a combat mission. Serhiy was born in the village of Trubytsi in Rivne Oblast. He lived in the village of Pidluzhne. After school, he studied at the Sarny Professional Agricultural Lyceum and the Myrohostyansk Agricultural College. In 2021, he graduated with a master's degree from the National University of Bioresources and Nature Management of Ukraine, majoring in "Agroengineering." While studying for his bachelor's degree at the Mechanical Engineering and Technology Faculty, he received the rank of junior lieutenant in the reserve for the military accounting specialty "Organization of Operation and Repair of Armored Vehicles" at the Military Training Department of NUBiP of Ukraine. Alongside his higher education, he worked as a repair locksmith in a dormitory. Since 2020, he held the position of machinery maintenance specialist at the company LLC "Agroliniyi." During the full-scale invasion by the occupiers, Serhiy, as a reserve officer, loyal to his military oath, was mobilized into the ranks of the Assault Airborne Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He was the commander of the 1st reconnaissance group of the 1st company of the 1st special purpose detachment of the 71st separate Jaeger brigade. "He was distinguished by diligence and hard work. Serhiy never refused to go for training, learn, and prepare for the assigned tasks. He constantly pushed and motivated us to work more diligently. It is natural to be afraid, but he never refused combat missions, of which we had many during our service together. Digging trenches under enemy tank and mortar fire, holding important positions for several consecutive days with minimal sleep, storming important trenches and settlements — none of this made him want to refuse or skip a task. One could write for a long time about what kind of warrior and friend he was, and it would still not be enough. An honest and diligent serviceman, a patriot of his country," shared memories of the fallen by his comrades. The officer was buried in the village of Pidluzhne in Rivne Oblast. Serhiy is survived by his parents, younger brother, other relatives, friends, and comrades.