Vitalii O. Berkuta (Prorab)

Soldier Vitaliy Berkuta (call sign Prorab) was killed on February 16, 2023 near the village of Rozdolivka in the Donetsk region. During enemy mortar shelling, he received fatal injuries. The warrior was 47 years old. Vitaliy was born in the village of Poninka, Khmilnytskyi region. He graduated from the Nikopol Agricultural College, where he mastered the profession of a mechanical technician. In 1995, he was conscripted for military service. The following year, he got married, and later the family had two sons, to whom he dedicated all his free time. In peacetime, he worked in construction. With the start of the full-scale war, in March 2022, the man went to the army to protect his home and family from the enemy. Vitaliy served in the 10th Separate Mountain Assault Brigade "Edelweiss". He was a rifleman-assistant grenadier in the 109th battalion. "My husband was cheerful, friendly, and never refused to help anyone, he was a support for his whole family. In the brigade, he was respected and valued, as there was no task or work that he could not do, he even had the call sign 'Foreman'. It's hard to believe he's gone, we all miss him very much. Every day we remember him, because wherever you look, there were his hands, it's very difficult... We will always remember his smile, expressions, and manners. We miss him as a father and husband. He will forever remain in our memory as a cheerful and kind person. We are proud of him and will never forget his heroic act, because we know that he went to protect his family first and foremost," said Kateryna Berkuta. The defender was buried in his native village. At home, he was awaited by his mother, wife, and two sons. Posthumously, Vitaliy Berkuta was awarded the Order of Courage of the III degree.