Vadym S. Mats (Mason)

Junior Lieutenant Vadym Mats (call sign Mason) was killed on December 26, 2023 near the village of Serebrjanka in the Donetsk region. During a hostile strike by a guided air bomb on the position, he received fatal injuries. In a month, on January 25, the officer would have turned 26 years old. Vadym was from the city of Kharkiv. He had dreamed of conquering the sky since childhood. Aviation was the calling of his soul. After graduating from the Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University of Kharkiv, he worked as a flight attendant at the airline "Skyup". In parallel, he was pursuing a second higher education at the Flight Academy of the National Aviation University. He aspired to become a civil aviation pilot and was moving towards his goal despite everything. He was engaged in sports and self-development, led an active lifestyle. When the full-scale war began, the man was involved in volunteer activities, helping the residents of Kharkiv and the local 92nd separate assault brigade. In July 2022, he joined the ranks of the volunteer battalion "Khartia", which later became the 13th brigade of the operational purpose of the National Guard of Ukraine. He was a drone operator. During his service, he defended Ukraine in Soledar and Bakhmut in the Donetsk region. Later, he was appointed the commander of the UAV platoon. "My husband was a sincere, open and kind person, always fought for justice and helped everyone who needed it. With him, the country lost its most devoted warrior and defender, and I lost my dear soul and, it seems, my own life," Maryana Mats said. "Everyone loved and respected Vadym - a brother-in-arms, classmate, groupmate, colleague, neighbor, friend, for his courage, bravery, professionalism, conscientiousness, unfailing kindness. He had an extraordinary sense of humor, was the soul of the team," the Kharkiv Law University noted. The National Guard soldier was buried in the village of Zernove in the Kharkiv region. He is survived by his father, wife and sister. Vadym Mats was posthumously awarded the Order of Courage of the II degree.