Taras S. Lench (Kvas)

Taras Lench (call sign Kvas), a fighter of the Territorial Defense Forces, was killed on December 13, 2022, in battle with the occupiers near Bakhmut in the Donetsk region. He was 22 years old. Taras was born in the village of Kornyn, Zhytomyr region. He stuwas killed at the Kornyn school until the 7th grade, then transferred to the Fastiv boarding school, which he graduated from in 2017. Later, he entered the Faculty of Radio Engineering at the National Technical University "Kyiv Polytechnic Institute named after Igor Sikorsky". He received a bachelor's degree. He did not have time to obtain a master's degree due to the war. He was interested in everything that could be soldered - from boards to microchips. He loved to ride a motorcycle. He was very modest and sincere, always helping everyone. With the start of the full-scale war, he volunteered to join the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He became a rifleman in the 204th separate battalion of the Territorial Defense Forces and went to war with his comrades-in-arms. He was wounded, but quickly returned to the front line. "Taras was always interesting and unusual, had a fiery character and a good nature, always achieved everything himself. Until the last, he remained a brave man, not afraid of death. He had an incredible smile. No matter how difficult it was, he smiled and believed in the better, supported everyone. It is thanks to such warriors that we have the opportunity to live and build the future. It is thanks to such as our Tarasyk," said the deceased's friend Kateryna. "He was a patriot of Ukraine. A person with a bright smile, sad eyes, and a sincere big heart. He had so many ideas and plans for the future," said the Faculty of Radio Engineering of the KPI. Taras was buried in his native village. The warrior left behind his parents and two older brothers.