On Monday, 26 October, a farewell ceremony will be held in Lviv for two servicemen who were killed defending Ukraine from the Russian occupiers, Ihor Budniak and Volodymyr Fit. The city authorities are calling on Lviv residents and visitors to join the ceremonies and to refrain at this time from entertainment events and celebrations.
The funeral service for the soldiers will begin at 11:00 at the Garrison Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. After the service, at approximately 11:40, a citywide farewell ceremony is planned on Rynok Square.
Ihor Budniak will be buried at Lychakiv Cemetery on Pasichna Street. Volodymyr Fit will be laid to rest at Holosko Cemetery, in section 34-V.
Ihor Budniak (31.03.1968 — 22.10.2026) was born in the town of Chortkiv in Ternopil region. He studied at Chortkiv Lyceum No. 1 named after Markiian Shashkevych of Chortkiv City Council of Ternopil region, and later obtained a military pilot’s education at a military college abroad. He worked in the field of entrepreneurship.
His family remember Ihor as a kind, sincere, responsible and sociable person with pronounced leadership qualities. He was respected by acquaintances and comrades-in-arms, loved Ukraine above all and remained faithful to her. His family was what mattered most to him: Ihor was a loving husband, a caring father of two daughters and grandfather to three grandchildren.
Ihor Budniak was educated and well-read, and many years of his life were connected with aviation. He loved animals and treated them with care, had “golden hands”, and was always ready to work and make things. He was passionate about gardening, growing various trees and tending to them.
With the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, he took up arms to defend Ukraine. He defended the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the state in the Southern-Slobozhanskyi and Donetsk sectors as part of the 105th Separate Territorial Defence Brigade of the Territorial Defence Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and later served in military unit 5245.
Ihor Budniak is survived by his wife, two daughters, a grandson, two granddaughters, as well as other relatives and friends.
Volodymyr Fit (28.07.1979 — 22.10.2026) was a native of Lviv. He studied at Secondary Comprehensive School No. 30 in Lviv, after which he trained as an electrician at one of Lviv’s vocational education institutions.
According to his family, Volodymyr was a kind, calm and friendly person, respected for his sincerity and his good attitude towards others. He was distinguished by his straightforward manner in communication and his ability to find common ground with people. He loved sport, especially football, enjoyed watching films and valued time spent in nature.
In 2026, Volodymyr Fit joined the ranks of the National Guard of Ukraine, where he served in military unit 3071.
Following the death of Volodymyr Fit, his mother, sister, brother-in-law, godson, goddaughter and other family members are left to mourn him.