Stepan Ya. Khudiak (Edelveis)

Defender Stepan Khudyak was killed in action on July 22, 2022, in a battle with the occupiers near the village of Ivano-Daryivka in the Donetsk region. The warrior was 39 years old. Stepan was born in the village of Topilske in the Ivano-Frankivsk region. He graduated from school in the neighboring village of Rivne. He worked at the Rozhnyativ quarry and went to work in Poland. He planted flowers and thuja trees near his house. He spent his free time with his family, adored his children. During the full-scale war, on February 28, 2022, Stepan joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He defended Ukraine in the ranks of the 108th battalion of the 10th separate mountain assault brigade. He was a very kind person, a loving husband, a loving father. He never called me anything else, only "Zaychik" and "Sonny". He went to church every Sunday. He helped all the neighbors, never refused anyone. He never regretted anything. It's hard to believe that he's no longer with us. We still think he's at war. On February 10, 2022, we celebrated the 15th anniversary of our wedding, said the deceased's wife, Nadiya. Stepan Khudyak has replenished the ranks of the Heavenly Army of our defenders. For all future generations of conscious Ukrainians, he will become an example of courage and devotion to Ukraine. I bow my head before his feat, express my sincere condolences to the relatives and loved ones of the Hero, wrote the head of the Kalush community, Zhanna Tabanets. The defender was buried in his native village. At home, Stepan's mother, wife, and three children were waiting for him.