Vladyslav V. Kravets (Som)

27-year-old scout Vladislav Kravets (call sign Som) was killed on October 23, 2022, while liberating the village of Nevske in the Luhansk region from the occupiers. During that operation, Ukrainian defenders defeated superior enemy forces, eliminating 34 occupiers and 3 machine gun crews. Vladislav was from the village of Trostyanets in the Khmelnytskyi region and lived in Kyiv. He studied to be a psychologist and worked at a shooting range, where he was a prizewinner in practical shooting competitions. On the first day of the full-scale invasion, Vladislav volunteered to defend his homeland. Initially, as part of the "KEDR" group of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, he participated in the defense of Kyiv. Later, he was involved in combat, reconnaissance, and sabotage operations in the Makariiv district. From May throughout the summer, he served in the Kharkiv region. He took part in many successful combat operations in the Derhachi district. As part of a group, he distinguished himself during the operation on July 12 in the area of the village of Dementiivka, when scouts, in coordination with the National Guard of Ukraine and territorial defense forces, destroyed three dozen enemy marines and captured the enemy group commander. For his participation in this operation, Som was awarded a firearm. In September 2022, soldier Vladislav Kravets was awarded the Order of Courage III degree. "He was a calm, balanced, disciplined fighter, a brave and reliable comrade for his battle brothers, an accurate shooter who constantly developed his combat skills, quickly mastered various types of weapons, and underwent training as an operator of the Javelin anti-tank missile system... A true scout!" noted the Military Intelligence. "Vlad is an example of a real man. Strong, brave, endlessly calm. He adored life. Perhaps you couldn't find a better friend than him. He awaited this war and showed himself in it as a courageous warrior. Such a short life, but he lived it to the fullest, having walked his path with dignity," said his best friend and beloved girlfriend Alina. The defender was buried in his native village in the Khmelnytskyi region. Vladislav is survived by his parents, brother, and girlfriend.