Vitalii I. Bondarenko (Aidar)

Senior soldier Vitaliy Bondarenko (call sign Aydar) was killed on March 22, 2024 in the village of Orlivka, Donetsk region. That day, he went on his last assault, where he was shot at close range. Vitaliy was 30 years old. He was born in the village of Pylypentsi, Poltava region. He received his education at the Bila Tserkva National Agrarian University in the field of "Agrarian Science and Food". In civilian life, he worked as a deputy manager in the ATB supermarket. He loved football. He lived in Bila Tserkva, Kyiv region. In 2014, Vitaliy was called up for military service. For two years, he was part of the Azov battalion, and then resigned to take care of his sick mother. With the start of the full-scale invasion, he again took up the defense of Ukraine. He held the position of gunner in the 3rd separate assault brigade. He underwent training and then fought in the Donetsk direction. In February 2024, Vitaliy took part in the battles for Avdiivka. After returning, he was in the hospital for some time, and when he recovered, he was sent to the village of Orlivka, Donetsk region. He was awarded the medal "Participant of the Military Parade" and "For Exemplary Military Service" of the III degree. "Vitaliy was good-natured and friendly, a person with an open heart who could be trusted. Generous, honest and fair, neat, polite and responsible. At work, he was restrained, but had a great sense of humor," said his civil wife Viktoria. The defender was buried on the Alley of Glory of the Sukhoyarsky cemetery in Bila Tserkva. Vitaliy is survived by his mother, stepfather, civil wife, son and daughter from his first marriage.