Vadym I. Kopylov (Svarshchyk)

Soldier Vadym Kopilov (call sign Welder) was killed on February 1, 2023 near the village of Paraskoviivka in the Donetsk region. During combat duty, an enemy shell hit his trench, which was corrected by the occupiers using a drone. The defender suffered fatal injuries. He would have turned 47 in March. Vadym was born in the city of Lubny, Poltava region. He studied at Lubny School No. 10. Then he obtained the profession of an electric gas welder at the Poltava Vocational School. He read a lot, preferring science fiction. He was passionate about metal detector searches. Since 2006, he had worked in his hometown at enterprises such as "Valteks", LLC "Aktiv", and "Lubnymash". During the full-scale invasion, the man joined the ranks of the 116th separate brigade of the territorial defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He was a rifleman in the 147th battalion. He courageously and responsibly carried out complex combat missions and believed in victory over the occupiers. "A beloved husband, a loving father, who will always be a hero for us. He gave his life for his nearest and dearest, for his family, for Ukraine. Eternal memory, our Hero. You will forever be in our thoughts, memories, and hearts. We love you endlessly," wrote the wife of the fallen. Vadym was buried at the Central Cemetery of his hometown. He is survived by his mother Valentyna Vasylivna, wife Mariia, daughter Sofiia, and son Oleh. The warrior was posthumously awarded the Order of Courage of the III degree.