Vitalii A. Kuznietsov (Kuzia)

Fighter Vitaliy Kuznetsov (call sign Kuzia) was killed on May 16, 2022, during an enemy massive artillery shelling near the village of Orihove in Luhansk region. The defender was 24 years old. Vitaliy was born in the city of Korosten, Zhytomyr region. He lived in the city of Konotop in Sumy region. He stuwas killed at Konotop School No. 11. In 2017, he graduated from the Polytechnic College of the Konotop Institute of Sumy State University with a degree in "Construction, Operation and Repair of Roads and Airfields". Three years later, he received a higher education at Sumy State University in the field of "Applied Mechanics". He worked as a senior salesperson at the "Technomarket" store. Still in school, he began to engage in football, taekwondo and devoted his whole life to sports. In November 2020, Vitaliy was drafted into the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Four months later, he signed a contract with the 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade named after King Danylo. He underwent training at the NTs "Desna", took the position of deputy commander of the combat vehicle, gunner-operator. In the summer of 2021, he went to perform combat tasks in Luhansk region - in the Zolote district. That's where he met the full-scale invasion. "Vitaliy was a wonderful, bright person, desperate, brave, kind, friendly, wonderful friend, loving guy, good friend, who knew how to listen and pick the right words," said Tetyana, the deceased's friend. The soldier was buried in Konotop. Vitaliy's parents, brothers, sisters, friends remained. Senior soldier Vitaliy Kuznetsov was posthumously awarded the Order "For Courage" III degree.