Vitalii V. Oleshchuk (Kosmos)

Lieutenant Vitaliy Oleshchuk (call sign Kosmos) was killed on February 17, 2024 while carrying out a combat mission in the area of the village of Ternі in the Donetsk region. The defender was 22 years old. Vitaliy was born in the city of Sarny, Rivne region. After school, he graduated from the Sarny Higher Vocational School. In 2019-2023, he studied at the National Academy of Land Forces named after Hetman Petro Sahaidachny in Lviv. During the full-scale Russian invasion, the young officer defended the Motherland as part of the 60th Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He was the deputy commander of the company. "Vitaliy was kind, decent, always honest and responsible," said his sister Anastasia Oleshchuk. The officer was buried in the Alley of Heroes of the cemetery in his hometown. Vitaliy is survived by his parents, brother, sister and beloved girlfriend.