Volodymyr T. Halaiko (Boroda)

Junior Sergeant Volodymyr Halayko (call sign Boroda) was killed on March 27, 2023, in Bakhmut, Donetsk region. During the assault on enemy positions, he sustained a fatal gunshot wound. Volodymyr was 34 years old. He was born in Zhydachiv, Lviv region, but later moved with his family to Pavlohrad, Dnipropetrovsk region. He graduated from the Dnipropetrovsk branch of the Kyiv Slavic University with a degree in International Relations. He worked at an IT company in the capital, where he held the position of product manager. In his free time, he was interested in Muay Thai boxing and had the title of Master of Sports. He loved playing intellectual games like "What? Where? When?". During the full-scale invasion, he defended Ukraine as part of the 114th separate brigade of the territorial defense. He was the deputy commander of the reconnaissance platoon. "He was crazy, smart, a real role model for me. I'm very sorry I didn't have time to thank my brother for everything he did for me," said Roman Halayko. The defender was buried in Ukrainka, Kyiv region. Volodymyr is survived by his mother and younger brother. His father, unable to bear the grief, was killed of a heart attack eight months after his son. Volodymyr Halayko was posthumously awarded the Medal "For Combat Merit". A memorial plaque in his honor was installed on the facade of his alma mater, School No. 8 in Pavlohrad. And on the Alley of Heroes in Ukrainka, where the defender lived and trained for some time, a stele with his image was erected.