Volodymyr V. Lemeshchuk (Tor)

23-year-old company commander Volodymyr Lemeshchuk (call sign Thor) was killed on April 20, 2022, in a battle with occupiers near the town of Popasna in Luhansk region. The officer managed to evacuate his wounded subordinates from the battlefield but was fatally wounded himself. Volodymyr was born in the village of Haiky-Sytenski in Rivne region. Choosing the path of a military man, he graduated from the National Academy of Ground Forces named after Hetman Petro Sahaidachny in Lviv. In his free time, he loved fishing and traveling. He got married and started a family, which he cherished and adored. Since 2019, the young officer has served in the 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade named after King Daniel. He first served as a platoon commander and carried out combat missions in the Joint Forces Operation area several times. During the full-scale war, Thor commanded a company in his brigade. The soldiers of his unit bravely defended Donbas from the first days of the invasion. "Military personnel remember their company commander with gratitude. They especially note his professionalism and composure during combat. They say that his confidence was transmitted to them, so each of them knew their maneuver in one or another situation on the battlefield. And Volodymyr Lemeshchuk saved the lives of four soldiers: he carried them to a safe place under heavy enemy artillery fire," the academy said. "For the unbelievable 4.5 best years of our life together, I am grateful to him. Because Volodymyr is the best, unique, loving husband. A caring and beloved father for his daughter, who was only 14 days old at that time. I have never met such a pure, kind, faithful, honest, wise, just, life-loving, strong-willed, hardworking, responsible Person. You were valued everywhere, listened to advice, and you were the best commander for your brothers-in-arms. You are my soul, my breath, my life, you are the Universe that now exists in our daughter. I and the little one love and are proud of you infinitely. For someone, you are just a man, a Warrior, but for us, you are the whole world! You are our Guardian Angel!" said the officer's beloved wife, Ivanna. The defender was buried in the village of Sytene in Rivne region. Volodymyr is survived by his wife and daughter, who was born in 2022. Posthumously, Captain Volodymyr Lemeshchuk was awarded the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky III degree.