Today marks a year since the Velykomostivska community lost its Defender — Andriy Valentynovych Khomych, a courageous warrior, devoted patriot, loving husband, and father.
Andriy was born in Volyn and grew up in the village of Velyka Yablunka, where his childhood passed. After school, he acquired the profession of a carpenter, being hardworking and kind-hearted. He served in the border troops in Uzhgorod, and with the start of the war in the east in 2015, he volunteered to join the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, fighting in the ATO zone and receiving the President of Ukraine’s award “For Participation in the Anti-Terrorist Operation”.
In 2020, he re-joined the service with the 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade named after King Danylo. When the full-scale invasion began, Andriy, being abroad, returned to Ukraine to defend it as part of the 65th Separate Mechanized Brigade. Always smiling, brave, and sincere — that’s how comrades remember him, lovingly calling him “ZVER”.
On October 29, 2024, while performing a combat mission near Novodanylivka in Zaporizhzhia, Andriy died a Hero’s death. He was buried in his native village Velyka Yablunka with military honors. Eternal memory and honor to the Hero. His love for Ukraine, courage, and kindness will remain in hearts forever.