Volodymyr Ya. Sobchyshyn (Stryi)

Serviceman Volodymyr Sobchyshyn (call sign Stryy) was killed on December 25, 2022, in combat with the occupiers near the village of Bakhmutske in the Donetsk region. The defender was 50 years old. Volodymyr was born in the village of Lysivtsi, Ternopil region. He lived in the city of Kryvyi Rih, Dnipropetrovsk region. He graduated from the National Pedagogical University named after Mykhailo Drahomanov with a degree in "History and Law." Since 2014, he has served under contract in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He participated in the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) / Joint Forces Operation (JFO). In 2018, he was awarded the medal "For the Defense of the Native State." Then he returned to civilian life and worked abroad. At the time of the full-scale invasion, the man was in Poland, but he decided to return to his homeland and defend it again. During the Great War, Volodymyr fought for Ukraine in the ranks of the 17th Separate Tank Brigade named after Kostiantyn Pestushko. He held the position of rifleman in the rifle squad of the rifle company of the rifle battalion. "Volodymyr was always a true patriot of his country, was concerned about the problems of Ukraine's integrity, the problems of studying the Ukrainian language and culture. He was always a loving husband, a good father to his children, and treated his parents with respect and love," said his wife Yevheniia. The defender was buried in Kryvyi Rih. Volodymyr is survived by his parents, wife, and two children. He was posthumously awarded the badge "For Merit to the City" of the III degree.