Vasyl H. Kostiuk (Berloha)

Main Sergeant Vasyl Kostiuk (call sign Berloga) died on August 9, 2023 near the village of Robotyne in the Zaporizhzhia region. While carrying out a combat mission, he came under enemy artillery fire. The defender was 50 years old. Vasyl was from the village of Vysotsk in the Rivne region. He graduated from the National Forestry University of Ukraine in Lviv. He worked as the head of the forest protection and security department at the Vysotsk Forestry branch of the State Enterprise "Forests of Ukraine". In May 2023, the man joined the ranks of the defenders and went to the front. He fought as part of the 117th Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He held the position of combat vehicle commander and mechanized platoon commander. "He was the best brother, friend, and advisor, he was fair, sensitive, and kind-hearted. He loved everyone and everything," said the deceased's sister Oksana Melnychuk. "He was a hero in life, and he will remain so forever. Because this was Vasyl Heorhiiovych's life position - to preserve, guard, and protect. His relatives, friends, the country, the forest - he loved everyone and everything very much. He often dreamed of our victory. He told his friends that when the war was over, he would return and work in his native forest again, patrol, and restore order. After all, the work of a forester, despite all the difficulties, is always emotions from the opportunity to be alone with nature, to think, to calm down and dream." They added at the Polissya Forest Office. The warrior was buried in his hometown. At home, his wife, two sisters, and close friends were waiting for him. Vasyl Kostiuk was posthumously awarded the Order of Courage of the III degree.