Viktor V. Kashtelianskyi (Kashtan)

Senior Lieutenant Viktor Kashtelyanskyi (call sign Kashtan) was killed on May 13, 2023, while defending the city of Bakhmut. Near the village of Ivanivske, the officer came under enemy fire and suffered fatal injuries. He was now forever 30 years old. Viktor was born in the village of Toporiv, Lviv region. He graduated from the Lviv Lyceum with enhanced military and physical training named after the Heroes of Kruty. He obtained higher education at the Institute of Telecommunications, Radio Electronics and Electronic Engineering of the Lviv Polytechnic National University. In parallel, he studied at the military department of reserve officers of the National Academy of Land Forces named after Hetman Petro Sahaidachnyi. In 2015, Viktor unhesitatingly went to war. He participated in the Anti-Terrorist Operation in Donbas as part of the 58th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, where he held the position of head of the communications center. He was then promoted to the rank of lieutenant. Later, he was demobilized and returned to civilian life. He worked abroad. On February 24, 2022, the young officer returned to the army. This time, he defended Ukraine in the ranks of the 80th Separate Airborne Assault Brigade. After the death of the company commander, Viktor performed his duties. "Vitya was a true patriot of his country," said Marina, a close person of the deceased. "Viktor Kashtelyanskyi will forever remain in our hearts as a cheerful and sincere person, full of goodness and love for life. The university community expresses gratitude to his family for raising a true patriot, our Hero, and at the same time - deep condolences over his loss. We share this pain with you and sincerely believe that the soul of the warrior is immortal, and the memory of the Hero and his deeds is eternal," was written on the website of Lviv Polytechnic. The courageous warrior was buried in his native village. Viktor is survived by his parents, sisters, nephews, and friends. The officer was posthumously awarded the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytskyi, 3rd degree.