On Wednesday, 26 August, a city farewell ceremony will be held in Lviv for servicemen Yurii Bykov and Bohdan Drobchak, who were killed while defending Ukraine from the Russian occupiers. The city authorities are asking Lviv residents to join in honouring the memory of the fallen and to refrain at this time from entertainment events and celebrations.
The funeral service will begin at 11:00 at the Garrison Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. At approximately 11:30, a citywide farewell ceremony will be held on Rynok Square. Afterwards, Yurii Bykov will be buried at Holosko Cemetery on Mykolaychuka Street, and Bohdan Drobchak at honorary burial plot No. 87 of Lychakiv Cemetery on Pasichna Street.
Yurii Bykov (21.06.1993 — 21.08.2026) was a native of Lviv. He studied at Secondary Comprehensive School No. 96 MZhK-1, and later qualified as a drywall installer at the State Educational Institution “Lviv Higher Vocational School of Design and Construction”. He worked for private construction companies.
His relatives remember Yurii as a kind, sincere and open person. He loved travelling, was an active cyclist and took part in competitions, representing Lviv. In 2024 he joined the ranks of Ukraine’s defenders. He served with the 95th Separate Air Assault Polissia Brigade of the Air Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, defending the state’s territorial integrity and sovereignty in the Donetsk and Kursk sectors. Yurii Bykov is survived by his mother, brother, son and other relatives.
Bohdan Drobchak (20.08.1981 — 04.08.2026) was also from Lviv. He studied at Secondary Comprehensive School I–III Levels No. 91, and obtained his higher education at the National University “Lviv Polytechnic” specialising in “Electronic Devices Production”, qualifying as an engineer in electronics and telecommunications. He later continued his studies at the Institute of Administration, Public Administration and Professional Development, where he qualified as an electrical engineer specialising in “Electrical Systems and Networks”. He also completed military training at a military department.
Bohdan’s professional career was linked to the energy sector: he worked as a power engineer at PJSC “Lvivoblenergo”, and later at the state enterprise “Lviv Danylo Halytskyi International Airport”.
According to his relatives, Bohdan was distinguished by his sense of justice, wisdom and strong character, had a good sense of humour, and was responsible and determined. He was a loving husband and caring father, a reliable support for his family, looked after his loved ones and spent a lot of time with his sons, with whom he loved to make things.
Bohdan Drobchak was a participant in the Anti-Terrorist Operation. With the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, he once again took up the defence of Ukraine. He served with the 125th Separate Heavy Mechanised Brigade of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, fighting for the state’s territorial integrity and sovereignty in the Southern Slobozhansky and Donetsk sectors.
For his service and participation in combat operations, he was decorated with a number of awards: the badge “For Participation in the Anti-Terrorist Operation”, the distinction of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine “Cross of the Territorial Defence Forces”, the medal of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine “To the Defender of Ukraine”, the medal “For Participation in the Battles ‘Bakhmut Frontier'” and the order “Honour and Glory”. Bohdan Drobchak is survived by his wife, two sons, parents and two sisters.