Vadym I. Parashchuk

33-year-old Staff Sergeant Vadym Parashchuk (call sign Arrow) died on April 30, 2024 in the hospital. Nine days earlier, while carrying out a combat mission, he sustained serious injuries as a result of a CAB shelling near the village of Prechystivka in the Donetsk region. Vadym was born in the village of Oleksandrivka, Kyiv region. He completed 9 grades at the Oleksandrivka secondary school. He then enrolled in the Rokytne vocational school, where he obtained the profession of a carpenter. In 2009, he was drafted into the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and a year later he signed a contract with military unit 3990, where he served until January 2014. In May 2014, he signed another contract with the 72nd separate mechanized brigade. He participated in the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) / Joint Forces Operation (JFO). On February 23, 2022, the man was mobilized into the 16th battalion "Poltava" of the 58th separate motorized infantry brigade. He was a unit commander. During his service, Vadym was awarded a number of decorations, including "For Exemplary Military Service" of the II and III degrees, "For Military Valor", "Guard of Ukraine", "For the Defense of Avdiivka", "War Veteran", "Participant of the ATO", and two awards from the OUV "Zaporizhia". Posthumously, he was awarded the Order of Courage of the III degree. "Vadym was the best thing that happened to me. We have wonderful children. I was always loved and happy, we had a strong family. But Vadym was a patriot of his country. He always said: 'Who, if not me? I will never abandon the guys.' He was a true commander," his wife Olha said. The hero was buried in the village of Karapyshi, Kyiv region. Vadym is survived by his mother, brothers, sisters, wife, son, and daughter.