Vitalii B. Sleziuk (Nindzia)

Reconnaissance officer Vitaliy Slesyuk (call sign Ninja) was killed on July 12, 2023 while performing a combat mission near the settlement of Bilohorivka in the Luhansk region. He was just 2 months short of his 35th birthday. Vitaliy was born in the village of Zhyvachiv, Ivano-Frankivsk region. After school, he obtained a degree in design art at the Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University. He was a private entrepreneur. During the full-scale Russian invasion, in June 2022, the man joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He served in the 81st Separate Airmobile Brigade. He was a 2nd category sniper in the reconnaissance platoon of the reconnaissance company. He underwent training in the United Kingdom, where he received a call sign for his agility and accurate shooting. After returning from training, together with his comrades-in-arms, he defended Mykolaiv, Kherson, Donetsk and Luhansk regions. In early 2023, he was wounded near Soledar. But after treatment, he returned to the frontline, this time for the last time. "He was the best brother who loved life, dreamed and planned for the future. He was a true warrior, a faithful friend, a man of his word, a man of courage, an example of indomitability and strength of spirit. Reliable, brave, dedicated, loving husband, father and son," said the deceased's sister Maryana. The warrior was buried in his native village. Vitaliy is survived by his parents, twin brother, sister, son, and other relatives, friends and comrades-in-arms.