Vitalii O. Pustilnik (Zaichyk)

33-year-old military Vitaliy Pustilnik (call sign Zaichyk) died on November 28, 2023 in the hospital in Dnipro from severe injuries. 6 days earlier, while carrying out a combat mission in the area of the village of Zaliznyanske in Donetsk region, he came under enemy mortar fire. Vitaliy was born in the village of Pochapyntsi, Cherkasy region. He studied at the local school. He was engaged in sports and achieved high results in athletics. Then he obtained the profession of a cheesemaker at the Zvenyhorodka Vocational and Technical School No. 16. He served conscription in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. After returning, he worked in his specialty in Smila, then held various positions in Cherkasy. After meeting his wife in 2018, he moved to the village of Nadlak, Kirovohrad region. There he worked as a driver at LLC "Agro-Prim". In February 2023, the man joined the ranks of the defenders. He served in the 404th separate rifle battalion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He was the commander of the engineering and technical department of the engineering and sapper platoon. "Vitaliy was very sincere, good, cheerful. He never forgot his relatives, we were always in touch. A strong and courageous person," said his cousin Yulia Marakhovska. "So young... so bright... so positive... A man who loved life very much and dreamed of living in peace and harmony with his closest ones, raising children... But he was not destined to fulfill this dream... The whole community deeply mourns the heavy irreparable loss and shares the grief of your family... Bows their heads in deep sorrow... He will forever remain in the hearts and memories of every resident of the community, everyone who knew him," added the Nadlak community. The defender was buried in the village of Nadlak, Kirovohrad region. Vitaliy is survived by his wife, daughter, son, who was born on the 40th day after the death of his father, as well as other relatives, friends and comrades-in-arms.