Yaroslav M. Mishchuk

35-year-old paratrooper Yaroslav Mishchuk (call sign Svityaz) died on February 15, 2024 near the village of Klishchiyivka in the Donetsk region. In the battle with the enemy, he sustained explosive-fragmentation wounds. He was considered missing for over a month. Yaroslav was born in the village of Svityaz in Volyn. After graduating from Svityaz Secondary School, he studied at the Shatsk Forestry College named after V.V. Sulko. He lived and worked in Lutsk for some time, and then returned to his native Svityaz. He had been passionate about fishing since an early age. His special passion was catching trophy pike in Lake Svityaz. He was skilled at woodworking and impeccably cared for his home garden and vegetation. On December 1, 2023, the man was mobilized into the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He served in the 80th Separate Airborne Assault Brigade, where he held the position of rifleman - grenade launcher assistant. "Yaroslav was a loving godfather, a good brother and son. He always came to the aid of those who needed it. His compassion, wisdom, and love were defining factors in his relationships with people. He always stood up for his loved ones! 'Don't worry! I'm doing fine!' - he always said that. And even when he was at his lowest, he worried about us so that we wouldn't worry about him. He knew how deeply we cared. He knew how much we loved him. And above all else in the world, he feared and disliked our tears. My godfather was an extraordinarily good and bright person, a man of his word. His love was special. Genuine. He loved through his actions, not just words. And I always felt that. He taught me many important things in life, and he was and remains my support, my best godfather in the world," said the deceased's goddaughter and niece Alina. On March 26, 2024, the warrior was buried in his native village. Yaroslav is survived by his sisters, niece, and beloved girlfriend.