Yaroslav O. Kushyk (Feniks)

Lieutenant Yaroslav Kushyk (call sign Phoenix) was killed on October 19, 2022, while carrying out a combat mission near the village of Pyatykhatky in the Kherson region. Two months earlier, on August 19, the officer turned 28 years old. Yaroslav was born in the village of Vovchukhy, Lviv region. He studied at the Boryslav general secondary boarding school. He was always a capable student, read a lot, was interested in the history of Ukraine, and was passionate about wood carving. He dreamed of becoming an officer. In 2015, he joined the public national liberation movement "Right Sector", and a year later joined the ranks of the 10th separate mountain assault brigade. For two years, he actively participated in combat operations in the ATO/JFO zone. In 2018, he entered the National Academy of Land Forces named after Hetman Petro Sahaidachny, which he graduated from in 2022. The young officer was sent to serve in the 17th separate Kryvyi Rih tank brigade named after Kostiantyn Pestushko, where he took the position of tank platoon commander. "He was always positive. He could always support and give advice. He loved conversations about tanks. He dreamed of continuing his studies after the war. But it was not to be," said the sister of the fallen Iryna Domina. "Yaroslav was respected for his humanity, professionalism, integrity and honesty, and his ability to be an example for his subordinates in the most crucial moments of confronting the enemy. He dreamed of a military career and believed in the inevitable victory over the enemy," added his friend Anna Suprun. The officer was buried in the village of Dolyniani, Lviv region. Yaroslav is survived by his mother, grandmother, sisters, brothers, and other relatives, friends and comrades-in-arms.