Taras H. Kostyk (Batia)

Sergeant Taras Kostiak (call sign Father) was killed on September 27, 2022, during an enemy shelling with Grad missiles of the positions of Ukrainian defenders near the village of Velyke Artakove in Mykolaiv Oblast. In October, he would have turned 53 years old. Taras was born in the village of Opaka in the Lviv region. He stu at the Opakivska secondary school. He then graduated from Medenytske Vocational Technical School No. 72. After his compulsory military service, he worked in drilling management. He got married and lived with his family in the city of Boryslav in Lviv Oblast. He was involved in construction work and worked abroad. He was passionate about landscape design. From the first days of the full-scale invasion, he volunteered to go to war, joining the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He served in the 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade named after King Daniel. He was a senior mechanic-driver in the anti-aircraft missile-artillery division. He participated in battles in Luhansk, Kherson, and Mykolaiv regions. "He was a very good man and father, kind and compassionate, positive and smiling, always helping everyone. Since March 2022, he was at the front lines and always said that he was doing well. He only spoke good words about his comrades," said the fallen soldier's son, Roman. Taras was buried at the "Hukova Hora" cemetery in Boryslav, Lviv Oblast. Taras is survived by his wife, son, friends, and comrades.