Vladyslav S. Usyk (Kipish)

Sergeant Vladyslav Usyk (call sign Kipish) was killed on July 15, 2023 near the village of Zaliznyanskе in the Donetsk region. The reconnaissance and assault group he was a part of came under enemy fire from small arms and F-1 grenades. The soldier's injuries proved fatal. He was 27 years old. Vladyslav was born in the village of Pokrovska Bahachka in the Poltava region. He studied "Metal-cutting machines and robotic systems" at the Poltava Polytechnic College. He later moved to the Cherkasy region and settled in the village of Prydniprovske. He worked as a process engineer at the agricultural enterprise STOV "Prydniprovske". In his free time, he enjoyed fishing and had many trophies. In 2016, he was drafted for military service. After demobilization, he signed a contract with the Armed Forces of Ukraine and participated in the Anti-Terrorist Operation / Joint Forces Operation. With the start of the full-scale invasion, Vladyslav returned to the army and began defending Ukraine. He fought in the ranks of the 30th separate mechanized brigade named after Prince Kostiantyn Ostrozkyi. He was a reconnaissance assault trooper. "My brother was and remains the best. We were like two halves of the same apple. Reliable, loving, sincere, brave - these are the qualities of my brother. For me, he was the best sunshine that set forever on that warm and sunny summer morning," said the fallen warrior's older sister. The hero was buried in the village of Prydniprovske, Cherkasy region. Vladyslav is survived by his sister Oksana, his wife Kateryna, and his son Maksym.