Vitalii R. Kavka (Kolobok)

Soldier Vitaliy Kavka (call sign Kolobok) was killed on September 10, 2022, near the village of Male Vesele in the Kharkiv region. A rifle platoon was sent on a combat mission to clear the settlement, having been informed that the enemy had abandoned their positions. However, the occupiers set an ambush and met the Ukrainian soldiers with heavy fire. More than 10 defenders in that battle. A week before this, Vitaliy turned 27 years old. The defender was from the city of Rozhyshche in the Volyn region. He graduated from Rozhyshchen Lyceum No. 4. Later, he obtained a profession as a cook-pastry chef at the Lutsk Cooperative College of the Lviv Commercial Academy. In 2016, he served his mandatory military service in the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. He then worked as a driver at a private company. In 2021, he went to work in Germany. With the onset of the full-scale war, the man returned to his homeland and went to the military recruitment office. He was later called up to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He served in the 14th Separate Mechanized Brigade named after Prince Roman the Great. He held the position of a rifleman - assistant grenade launcher. "My brother worked in Germany. Upon learning that the war had knocked on Volyn with explosions, he left everything and, on March 2, stood up to defend his native country. Vitaliy had only 1.5 years of mandatory service behind him, but he had a great desire to fight for his homeland. Eternal memory to our Hero," said Olena Kavka. The hero was buried in the Alley of Glory at the cemetery of his hometown. At home, his parents and sister awaited Vitaliy. Posthumously, the soldier was awarded the Order of "For Courage" III degree and the Chief Commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine's award "Steel Cross."