Vasyl I. Stefanyshyn (Frantsuz)

Vasyl Ihorovych Stefanyshyn was born on August 7, 1997, in Ivano-Frankivsk. He lived in the village of Uhornyky, Ivano-Frankivsk City Council. He received his primary education at Ivano-Frankivsk Lyceum No. 11. From the 2nd grade, he studied at the Ivano-Frankivsk Children's Music School No. 1 named after Mykola Lysenko, where he mastered the violin program. In 2014, he graduated from the Ukrainian Gymnasium No. 1. He was a quick and easy learner. He had an exceptional memory and aptitude for natural and mathematical subjects, in which he had the highest grades and various awards. He mastered all subjects at a sufficient and high level. He was interested in geography, radio engineering, history, and carried out project work in English. Every Sunday, the family attended the service at the Church of St. George in the village of Uhornyky. As a child, Vasyl learned the basic prayers, and together with his parents, he celebrated Christmas, Easter, and major religious holidays according to folk traditions. He had a good musical ear and willingly caroled. His mother taught him many carols, and the boys really wanted to carol with him. He especially looked forward to St. Nicholas' Day and wrote letters to the saint full of children's hopes. His mother was always his closest person, who supported him in everything and raised him to be an independent, self-sufficient, and decent person. From an early age, Vasyl Stefanyshyn loved sports, was conscientious, disciplined, and persistent. He kept a bicycle at hand and rode it skillfully. As he grew older, football became his top priority. He played many matches as part of the football team of the village of Pidluzhzhia. During his studies at the Ukrainian Gymnasium No. 1, he enthusiastically participated in "Cossack Amusements." He mastered mountain skiing on his own and persistently learned to ride a snowboard. He always pumped his muscles on the crossbar, lifted kettlebells and barbells. He maintained his physical fitness even during the war, being in various conditions. In 2014, he enrolled at the Ivano-Frankivsk National Technical University of Oil and Gas. In June 2018, he received a bachelor's degree, and in December 2019, a master's degree in "Geodesy and Land Management." He was an active and responsible student, had many friends with whom he created educational projects, participated in student actions, and attended performances of his favorite music bands. For a short period, Vasyl worked as a land surveyor engineer at the Scientific and Production Association "Geogroup" in Ivano-Frankivsk. From March 2020 to April 2021, he lived and worked in Lviv, from where on April 12, 2021, he went to work in France. In Paris, on February 24, 2022, he heard the terrible news about the war in Ukraine. Vasyl Stefanyshyn returned home on March 4 and immediately asked to be taken to the territorial defense. On April 25, 2022, as part of the 78th battalion of the 102nd separate brigade of the Territorial Defense Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine "Ivano-Frankivsk Region," Vasyl Stefanyshyn went to fulfill combat missions in the Zaporizhia direction. For 9 months, he was with his comrades-in-arms on the "zero line." On September 14, 2022, he sustained an explosive injury. After a leave of absence for health reasons, on October 28, 2022, he returned to his positions. He was killed on February 3, 2023, as a result of enemy tank shelling while carrying out a combat mission on the outskirts of the village of Zelenyi Hai, Zaporizhia region. The funeral took place on February 6, 2023, in the village of Uhornyky. The hero was buried in the cemetery of the village of Uhornyky, Ivano-Frankivsk City Council.