Yurii O. Ishchuk

A 52-year-old senior soldier, Yuriy Ishchuk, killed in action on February 24, 2022, while carrying out a combat mission to guard the Antonovsky Bridge in the Kharkiv region. The defender came under enemy fire and sustained a fatal gunshot wound to the chest. He was considered missing until the liberation of Kharkiv. Yuriy was born and lived in the village of Meleshkiv, Vinnytsia region. He received a secondary education and worked as a tractor driver. He was married, raised two children, and already had a grandchild.In 2018, the man signed a contract and joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine to defend the state. He served in the 59th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade named after Yakov Gandzyuk. He held the position of senior rifleman and carried out combat missions in the area of the Joint Forces Operation. He sincerely believed in victory and bravely fought for Ukraine until his last breath. "My father was a good, honest person. He never left anyone in trouble. He always smiled. We miss him very much... I still can't believe he's gone," said daughter Yulia Ishchuk. On November 20, 2022, the defender was buried with military honors in his native village. Yuriy left behind his mother, wife, daughter, son, grandchildren, brother, and sister. Posthumously, the hero was awarded the Order "For Courage" III degree.