Yurii V. Kovalchuk (Bidzho)

Junior Sergeant Yurii Kovalchuk (call sign Bidzho) was killed on October 2, 2022, while carrying out a combat mission near the village of Iziumske in the Kharkiv region. The warrior was 35 years old. Yurii was born in the city of Kalush in the Ivano-Frankivsk region. He stu at Kalush Lyceum No. 5. He had a passion for sports from childhood, engaging in artistic gymnastics, basketball, wrestling, and boxing. He graduated from Vocational School No. 7. He worked in construction. On the first day of the full-scale Russian invasion, he joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He held the position of commander of an anti-tank platoon in the 80th Separate Air Assault Brigade. Along with his comrades, he participated in battles for Lysychansk and Soledar. In August, he was awarded the Order of "For Courage" III degree. "A loving father, a faithful husband, and a brave warrior. We have always been together since childhood. In 2005, I became his loving wife. Our daughter Yuliia was born in our happy marriage — daddy's joy and comfort," said the widow of the fallen, Kateryna. The defender was buried at the Alley of Glory in the "Vysotsanka" cemetery in his hometown of Kalush. Yurii is survived by his father Volodymyr, mother Svitlana, wife Kateryna, daughter Yuliia, brothers, and sisters. Posthumously, the soldier was awarded the Order of "For Courage" II degree.