When a military plane carried the bodies of 10 Ukrainian soldiers back to their native Volyn Oblast in western Ukraine, even commanders couldn’t hide their tears. The victims were among at least 18 servicemen killed on May 22, the bloodiest day yet for Ukraine forces taking part in the nation’s anti-terrorist operation.
All killed that day in Donetsk Oblast were ambushed by Kremlin-backed separatists who attacked a Ukrainian military checkpoint near Volnovakha village. The casualties on the Ukrainian side numbered at least 17 soldiers while another 33 were wounded, according to official figures. All of the servicemen were from the 51st armored brigade. An 18th serviceman, also from western Ukraine, was killed in Luhansk Oblast on the same day in a different fight.
“When the bodies of our comrades arrived (on May 26), we had mixed feelings,” Bohdan Bondaruk, who serves in the same brigade in Rivne, recalled. “Many of our soldiers cried. It’s hard to believe we lost our guys. However, we have no fear left.”
Bondaruk, 24, was mobilized to the army in early April and hopes the anti-terrorist operation will succeed. The soldiers are facing many problems, however, including poor leadership and the lack of the most important gear and arms. “Many of those soldiers killed in Donetsk did not have helmets and bulletproof vests,” Bondaruk explains. “And they couldn’t imagine they are going to war.”
Still, even after the deaths, other soldiers volunteered to continue their service and go to Donetsk Oblast to “pay back” the terrorists on behalf of their killed comrades.
However, Ukrainian Defense Minister Mykhailo Koval said that the 51st armored brigade, which lost the greatest number of servicemen, will be redeployed to another oblast, according to the Defense Ministry statement.
Here is the list of Ukrainian soldiers known to have been killed on May 22:
Rivne Oblast
Vitaliy Marynych, 22, soldier. Marynych was killed on May 22 near Volnovakha village in Donetsk Oblast. He was the only son in his family.
Leonid Ozeranchuk, 23, soldier from Rokytne village in Rivne Oblast was killed on May 22. His body was moved to his native village. Local authorities promised to help his family.
Andriy Nechyporuk, 34, was a father of four children who joined the 51st armored brigade.
Zhytomyr Oblast
Serhiy Yaroshenko, 23, was killed on May 22 near Rubizhne village in Luhansk Oblast when Russian-backed separatists opened fire on a Ukrainian motorized rifle platoon. Yaroshenko, who was mobilized in March, was shot in the head. He leaves two children.
Khmelnytsky Oblast
Volodymyr Ovcharuk, 35, a commander from Khmelnytsky, was a very motivated person. “He had a talent to do literally everything,” Ovcharuk’s classmate, Vitaly Kohut, was quoted as saying. His comrades said he never shied from duty. He leaves two children.
Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast
Dmytro Shkribliak, 21, a sniper specialist from Snyatyn. He celebrated his last birthday in the army, three days before his death. Shkribliak and two colleagues were patrolling near the village of Volnovakha in an armored personnel carrier when it was blown up. His parents, who work in Italy, couldn’t come to Ukraine to mourn their son.
Lviv Oblast
Evheniy Bida, 22, a Ukrainian National Guard soldier, was one of the first who volunteered when mobilization started. He used to work as a guard in his native village in Vinnytsia Oblast.
Volyn Oblast
Leonid Polinkevych, 29, commander, “He always tried to be a friend to the soldiers,” one of Polinkevych’s friends told the Kyiv Post. “His work was number one on his list, but he also couldn’t imagine his life without his family.” Polinkevych leaves a 5-year-old daughter.
Mykola Bondaruk, 24, rifleman. Bondaruk didn’t tell his relatives that his brigade was deployed to the war zone. “We had no idea they would be sent to Donetsk,” Bondaruk’s friend, Alina Ivanyuk, was quoted as saying. “He was very kind and liked children.”
Mykhailo Hrytsyuk, 29, intelligence operator. Hrytsyuk was mobilized to the Ukrainian army three days after his daughter was born. “We could have been celebrating his birthday June 5th, but end up at his mourning,” Natalia Lishchuk, Hrytsyuk’s sister, was quoted as saying.
Oleksandr Artemuk, 36, chief commander. Artemuk, who lived in Kovel in Volyn Oblast, was an active EuroMaidan Revolution supporter. His family recalled that he went to Kyiv frequently and helped the activists. He was among the first to volunteer when mobilization started, telling his family that he couldn’t sit idly by when his country needs him. He leaves two sons and a newborn daughter.
Volodymyr Prokopchuk, 23, soldier from Lutsk. Prokopchuk’s three-week training started in Rivne, then he was deployed to Donetsk. Prokopchuk told his parents that he was a patriot who “doesn’t want to avoid the service.” His friend, Borys Kutsyk, says “they will never forget Volodymyr, who always tried to cheer up everyone.” Prokopchuk planned to get married soon. He left a fiance in his hometown.
Dmytro Iovzyk, 31, a gunner from Lutsk. Iovzyk used to work as a driver. He was mobilized to the army and soon deployed to Donetsk Oblast. “He was kind and modest person, even shy,” Iovzyk’s friend, Taras Stolyarchuk recalls. “He always was ready to help.”
Volodymyr Zaradyuk, 23, from Lutsk, was the only son in his family. His classmates recall he was very social and open-minded. His parents said he didn’t complain when he was mobilized because he wanted to help.
Pavlo Popov, 22, soldier. Popov’s relatives said he planned to pursue his career in the military.
Vitaliy Lishchuk, soldier from Zoria village.
Vitaliy Makhnovets, 33, grenadier from Lutsk, was mobilized to Ukrainian army in early April. Makhnovets’s relatives recalled he was furious about the poor conditions the soldiers endured, but took his work seriously. Makhnovets planned to get married in June. He leaves his fiance, sister and mother in his native town.
Kyiv Post staff writer Olena Goncharova can be reached at [email protected]
