Vasyl O. Povkhanych (Khan)

Soldier Vasyl Povkhanich (call sign Khan) was killed on May 29, 2024 near the village of Dibrova in the Luhansk region. He was killed by enemy mortar fire. Four days before this, the defender had turned 34 years old. Vasyl was born and lived in the village of Verkhni Hai in the Lviv region. He graduated from the local school and Stryi Vocational School No. 8. After his studies, he served in the military. Later, he worked in the transport shop of the Stryi Wagon Repair Plant, where he was a 4th class track fitter. Vasyl's railway colleagues remembered him as calm, balanced, friendly, tactful, caring, and truthful. He was persistent and determined in achieving his goals, disciplined, hardworking, and conscientiously performed his duties, often making proposals to improve the work. Vasyl maintained friendly relations with his colleagues and was always willing to help. He loved justice and truth, was distinguished by high moral qualities, and enjoyed authority in the team. In August 2023, the man joined the ranks of the defenders of Ukraine. He served in the 63rd Separate Mechanized Brigade. He was continuously on the front-line positions for eight months. He performed combat missions as a rifleman - a grenade launcher assistant. His comrades-in-arms considered him a talisman, as Vasyl's presence on missions had often miraculously saved them from death. The warrior was buried in his native village. He is survived by his mother, sister, and two brothers.