Yakiv I. Sidletskyi (Sviatyi)

Main Sergeant Yakov Sidletskyi (call sign Holy) was killed on February 23, 2024, during enemy mortar fire in the village of Minkivka, Donetsk region. He would have turned 26 years old in two days. Yakov was born in the village of Hrynivtsi, Zhytomyr region. In 2013, he graduated from the Hrynivtsi Educational Complex of I-II degrees, then entered a college. Until 2019, he served in the army. Later, he entered the Zhytomyr Agrotechnical College, majoring in Agroengineering. He worked at Volkraft LLC. He lived with his family in Zhytomyr. During the full-scale war, he defended Ukraine as part of the 30th Separate Mechanized Brigade. He was a squad commander. For his service, the defender had a number of awards, including the "Golden Cross" and "DEI GRATIA" badges. "Every story of our life has its value. We were always together in life - walks, coffee, fishing, mushrooms. I did not know with him either troubles or worries. And now I have learned everything at once. He supported even when he was in hellish battles, always knew what to say. There was so much love in his words... He could warm from a distance. Together with my beloved, we dreamed of a happy future, about how we would raise our little sons. He said: 'You can even not doubt that everything will be as we want, because we are both making every effort to make it all work out. And now you have to be strong,' said his wife Marina. "Yakov is an example of fulfilling his duty and a worthy son of his Motherland. His actions and conscientious attitude to service have undoubtedly made an invaluable contribution to the victory over the enemy," added Yakov's comrade-in-arms. "He was always in a good mood, I drew positive energy from him. It was always fun with him, but now he has gone to cheer up those who are no longer with us," added another comrade-in-arms. The defender was buried in his native village. Yakov left behind a wife, three sons, and parents. Posthumously, Sergeant Major Yakov Sidletskyi was awarded the Order of Courage of the III degree.