A city farewell ceremony will be held in Lviv for three servicemen who were killed defending Ukraine from the Russian occupiers. Lviv will say goodbye to Arsen Shmatko, Volodymyr Berest and Ruslan Stetsa. The city authorities are calling on residents and visitors to join in honouring the memory of the soldiers and to refrain from entertainment during this time.
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.
After the service, Volodymyr Berest will be buried at Lychakiv Cemetery, in the field of honourable burials No. 87 on Pasichna Street. Arsen Shmatko will be laid to rest at Sykhiv Cemetery, in field No. 12, and Ruslan Stetsa at Holosko Cemetery, in field 34-V.
Arsen Shmatko (10.03.1981 — 08.10.2026) was a native of Lviv. He studied at Lyceum No. 45 of Lviv City Council and later at the state vocational institution “Lviv Higher Vocational School of Food Technologies”. He completed compulsory military service and worked at the limited liability company “Shchedro”.
His family remember Arsen as a cheerful, sincere and positive person, distinguished by his kindness, openness and ability to support others in difficult moments. He was passionate about cooking, loved to prepare food, was interested in motorbikes, and was an attentive and caring brother, a reliable friend and comrade-in-arms.
In 2024, Arsen Shmatko took up arms to defend Ukraine from the Russian invasion. He served in the 1st Donetsk Border Detachment “Hart” of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, defending the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the state in the Southern Slobozhanskyi and Donetsk sectors. He was awarded the badge “War Veteran”. He is survived by two sisters and other relatives.
Volodymyr Berest (07.10.1985 — 07.10.2026) was also born in Lviv. He graduated from Secondary Comprehensive School I–III degrees No. 91, and trained as a painter-plasterer at the state vocational institution “Lviv Higher Vocational School of Computer Technologies and Construction”. He worked in the construction sector for private companies.
According to his family, Volodymyr was sincere, kind and caring, easily found common ground with people and was always ready to help. He loved cooking and spending time in nature.
In 2025, he joined the ranks of Ukraine’s defenders, protecting the state from the Russian occupiers. He served in the Southern Slobozhanskyi sector with military unit A5161, defending the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country. Volodymyr Berest is survived by his grandmother, aunt and family.
Ruslan Stetsa (09.05.2000 — 09.10.2026) was from Lviv and a graduate of Secondary Comprehensive School I–III degrees No. 49 in Lviv. He received his vocational education at the state institution “Lviv Higher Vocational School of Design and Construction”. He worked as a painter-plasterer for private companies and later as a courier.
His family say that Ruslan was a kind, sincere, sociable and sensitive person, noted for his friendliness, compassion and willingness to help those in need. He loved spending time in nature, was interested in history, cars and car repairs, and easily found common ground with people.
In 2025, Ruslan Stetsa took up arms to defend Ukraine from the Russian occupiers. He defended the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the state in the Zaporizhzhia and Southern Slobozhanskyi sectors as part of the 1st Separate Assault Regiment of the Land Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He is survived by his parents, a sister with her family and other close relatives.