A police officer from Lviv region, Stepan Levandovsky, was posthumously awarded the Order of Courage, Third Class, and the Combatant’s Cross by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
On August 4, the head of the Lviv region police, Oleksandr Shliakhovskyi, presented the order and badge to the fallen officer’s wife, Maria, and his daughters, Victoria and Sofia. Stepan Levandovsky, a fighter of the special purpose police battalion KORD (rifle) of the Main Directorate of the National Police in the Lviv region, heroically died at a firing position in the city of Toretsk.
“Stepan gave his life for the prosperity and protection of our country. For our police family, this is an irreplaceable loss. Please accept our sincere condolences”, the head of the Lviv police addressed the Hero’s family.
Ivan Hula, head of the Security Police Department of the Lviv region — the unit where Stepan began his service — noted that he would be remembered in the team as an exceptionally kind, compassionate, and responsible person, a true patriot of Ukraine.
“My children should live in an independent state”, Stepan said at the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion when he decided to join the KORD rifle battalion.
“We are sincerely grateful to the parents for such a son and assure that the family of our fallen colleague can always count on our support”, emphasized the police colonel.
“He always protected us. He was a wonderful son, husband, and father — caring, kind, and generous. He never refused to help anyone. We still cannot believe that he is no longer with us”, said Maria, Stepan Levandovsky’s wife.
Stepan joined the ranks of the internal affairs bodies in 2008, working in the State Security Service Department. From the beginning of Russian aggression, he served in the ATO/OOS zone. For personal courage and high professionalism shown during the protection of Ukraine’s state sovereignty and territorial integrity, he was awarded the presidential distinction «For participation in the anti-terrorist operation».
His last place of service was the special purpose police battalion KORD (rifle) of the Lviv police. With many years of combat experience, Stepan did not hesitate to join the newly formed unit. He died on January 9, 2025, at a firing position in the city of Toretsk during a combat mission. His comrades carried his body from the battlefield.
For his personal courage and dedication shown in the defense of Ukraine’s state sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as for faithful and impeccable service to the Ukrainian people, senior police sergeant Stepan Levandovsky was posthumously awarded the Order of Courage, Third Class, and the Badge of the Combatant’s Cross by the President of Ukraine.
A memorial plaque in his honor is installed on the facade of Secondary School No. 23 on Varshavska Street in Lviv, where the Hero studied. Stepan is forever 37… Bright memory. Forever in the ranks.