Vitalii F. Lakatosh (Harri Potter)

Corporal Vitaliy Lakatosh (call sign Harry Potter) was killed on November 22, 2023, during the evacuation of wounded comrades near the village of Maly Shcherbaky in the Zaporizhia region. When providing medical assistance, an enemy missile struck. The defender was 25 years old. Vitaliy was born in the village of Skotarske, Zakarpattia region. He completed 9 grades at the local school and obtained a full secondary education in the village of Volovets. He then enrolled at the State University of Infrastructure and Technology in Kyiv. He received a master's degree in "Automation in Railway Transport". During his studies, he worked as a cook at McDonald's for 3 months and as a salesman at Silpo for 3.5 years. After receiving his diploma, he returned home. He got a job at Ukrzaliznytsia, working as a car assembler in Mukachevo. After a month, he was transferred to Uzhhorod as a station operator. After 4 months, he quit due to low pay. In January 2022, he went to Poland to work. There, he worked as a packer at the Nutricia dairy plant. In his free time, he loved to read and adored pets. When the full-scale invasion began, Vitaliy was abroad. But in July, he returned home to defend his homeland. They did not want to take him into service, as he had not served before. On December 5, 2022, he signed a contract. To join the ranks of the defenders, Vitaliy memorized the eye chart, as he had a childhood eye injury and could only see 30% with that eye. He served in the 128th Separate Mountain Assault Brigade, holding the position of platoon combat medic. "I didn't let Vitalik go to war, I begged him on my knees not to go. But it was his choice, and I accepted it. He said he couldn't do otherwise. People like my son are born once in 100 years. He never thought about himself, he lived for people. My eternal son is my eternal pain for the rest of my life," said the defender's mother, Lyubov Lakatosh. "Vitalik was purposeful, kind, and a devoted warrior, and it was because of these qualities that he decided to become a combat medic to save the lives of his comrades. And he was killed fulfilling his duty on the battlefield. Although it is difficult for me to accept the death of a wonderful comrade and irreplaceable friend, the only factor that will rectify such glaring injustice is revenge and victory. I don't know if there is life after death, but I believe he would have wanted this. Rest in peace, my friend," added comrade Eduard Vainrauh. "He always smiled. A boy with the eyes of a romantic. That's how I would describe our Vitaliy Lakatosh. He was incredibly sincere, kind, cheerful, balanced, and tolerant, and he had many friends. It seems to me that he could not even be offended, because he himself never offended anyone. He didn't want anything in life, he just wanted to live," noted Vitaliy's class teacher. The defender was buried in the cemetery of his native village. He is survived by his mother, father, and sister.