Taras R. Brus (Brus)

About the native of the village of Banya Lysovytska in the Stryi district of Lviv region, Taras Romanovych Brus, one of the teachers of the local secondary school-lyceum recalled: “From childhood, Taras was cheerful and sociable. He was interested in everything. He studied very well. A wonderful organizer in the student collective, deputy head of the student self-government. Well-mannered and polite, friendly and smiling, with light green eyes, light-haired and with a bright soul, a boy whose presence always evoked pleasant feelings. It was pleasant to communicate with Taras for both teachers and classmates. Although the young man was not tall, he charmed girls with his charisma. Everyone who knew him, taught him, or was friends with him remembers him as a sunny boy…”. In 2011, Taras graduated from the Lviv Commercial Academy, and while studying, he worked at an insurance company, later becoming a private entrepreneur by opening his own café. His parents, who had lived in Italy for the past few years, invited their son to live with them, but Taras categorically refused, limiting himself to short visits — he said he could not imagine his life outside Ukrainian land… He had many friends, with whom he spent most of his leisure time — his Facebook page has many photos taken with friends during those carefree times. He dreamed of starting a family and raising children in the country he loved without pompous words and oaths… He believed in his strength and that life could be changed for the better — and that is why from the first days he passionately supported the Revolution of Dignity. Taras not only traveled to Kyiv, where he lived in tents with friends, built and defended barricades, but also began volunteer activities, organizing material support for EuroMaidan. For this, he sold his business and even took out a loan (which he paid off until July 2014, as he did not want to live in debt). One of the first to sense the approach of war, Taras continued his mission, relying on the experience gained and the support of a wide circle of like-minded people from various cities in Ukraine, as well as from abroad, particularly from Ukrainian communities in Italy and Canada — thanks to his efforts, tons of food, medicines, uniforms, shoes, equipment, helmets, and bulletproof vests were sent to support Ukrainian soldiers. This work continued until he decided to join the newly formed battalion "Dnipro-1" (now a regiment). His combat path led through Mariupol, Pisky — everywhere his unit had to operate. To spare his mother from worry, he did not tell her that he was fighting, saying that he was working as a volunteer. However, this was partially true, as coordinating public assistance took all his free time. Taras even became the hero of several television stories — one of them aired on one of the central TV channels on July 7, 2014, titled "From businessman to soldier. The path of a patriot." While speaking on camera about his volunteer work, Taras said: “I do this because I cannot sit at home watching on TV as our guys die… I need neither money nor fame, nothing. Just when you know you have done a good deed, helped someone — that is the best thing there can be.” His parents later recalled: “He said: I have never felt so happy because I am needed by people and I am succeeding…”. Kind, sincere, and compassionate, always smiling — this is how Taras is remembered by his combat comrades. They also remembered how he took care of his weapon — his rifle was not only well-sighted and constantly cleaned, but Taras also "modernized" an old Kalashnikov rifle, personally installing a modern folding stock and other useful accessories. With this weapon in hand, Private Brus defended the surrounded Ilovaisk for several days and heroically met his death when on August 29, Russian occupation forces turned the guaranteed green corridor for Ukrainians into a "corridor of death." A friend and fellow countryman, another fighter of "Dnipro-1," former people's deputy of Ukraine Volodymyr Parasyuk, witnessed his death. According to him, while driving a vehicle transporting the wounded, Taras skillfully maneuvered at high speed and managed to get through the first section of the road, which was under heavy enemy fire, but a few kilometers later, near the village of Novokaterynivka, they were ambushed again. Brus and Parasyuk were the only ones who could shoot back, and they engaged in battle, during which Taras was wounded but continued to fire — thanks to this, nine comrades were saved… Taras went missing during that terrible battle, and relatives and colleagues did not lose hope that he had survived — the search lasted four months. But eventually, he was identified by a photo from the morgue, and DNA tests confirmed: Private Brus was buried in Zaporizhzhia as an unidentified defender of Ukraine. After exhumation on December 19, 2014, Taras was memorialized at the Holy Spirit Church in Dnipro, and the next day, a memorial service was held for him at the Lviv Garrison Church of Saints Peter and Paul. Later, in his native village, with prayers and military honors, the entire community accompanied the brave volunteer on his final journey…