Valerii M. Yushchyk

Soldier Valeriy Yushchyk (call signs Valerchyk, Boroda) died on November 18, 2022, during enemy artillery shelling near the city of Bakhmut in the Donetsk region. The defender was 40 years old. The fighter was born in Volyn. He received his primary education at the Pereslavychiv primary school, and later continued his studies at the secondary school in the village of Pavlivka. He then enrolled in Vocational School No. 23 in Volodymyr-Volynskyi, where he obtained the qualifications of an electrician for the maintenance and repair of electrical equipment and a car driver. He worked as a driver and later became a long-distance truck driver. During the full-scale war, he served in the 53rd Separate Mechanized Brigade named after Prince Volodymyr Monomakh. He held the position of BMP mechanic-driver. "Dad loved cars, technology, and driving very much; he could spend hours around them. And this influenced his choice of profession. He engaged in his favorite activity - he worked as a driver at the SGVK "Vilna Ukraina", OJSC "Horokhiv ATE-10764", a tractor driver at PE "Yevropatsukhor", a tractor operator at LLC "Staryi Porytsk", and a school bus driver at the Pavlivskyi Lyceum. And his biggest professional dream was to become a long-distance truck driver, and he managed to realize it. In October 2021, he got behind the wheel of a truck. Dad was fascinated by cars, loved to read and watch TV shows about cars, their repair, and car races. He loved to rest and spend time with his family," said the deceased's daughter Viktoria. "A kind, caring, loving father and husband, a sincere and benevolent person who is always ready to help and support. He worked, took care of our family, was a reliable support for us and mom. But the full-scale invasion changed the usual course of life, crossed out all plans and dreams. And dad without any hesitation stood up to defend his family and native land. He was a courageous, brave, and fearless warrior, a faithful comrade, a sincere patriot of his country. He always dreamed that we would live in a peaceful, prosperous, and independent Ukraine. We are proud of our dad. Dad is a hero for us." The defender was buried in the village of Staryi Porytsk, Volyn region. Valeriy Yushchyk is survived by his wife and three children. Valeriy Yushchyk was posthumously awarded the Order of Courage of the III degree.