Sad news has once again reached the Sokal community. Two brave defenders — Ihor Buldyak from Sokal and Yaroslav Kikh from the village of Zhvirka — have returned home for their final rest.
🇺🇦 Hero Ihor Buldyak: Returning Home After Six Months
Ihor Yuriyovych Buldyak, born in 1969 in Sokal, was killed on May 6, 2024, while performing a combat mission near Staromaiorske, Volnovakha District, Donetsk region.
He studied at Sokal School No. 2 and graduated from Sokal Vocational College. On December 19, 2023, Ihor was drafted into the Armed Forces of Ukraine, serving as chief sergeant and commander in military unit A-4945.
After months of waiting, his body was finally returned home through repatriation efforts.
The funeral will take place on October 15 at 2:00 p.m. near Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Sokal. He will be laid to rest at the Alley of Heroes.
Heartfelt condolences go to his mother Zinaida, sister Iryna, aunt, cousins, and nephews.
Eternal glory to Hero of Ukraine Ihor Buldyak.
🇺🇦 Hero Yaroslav Kikh: Linguist, Scholar, and Marine
Another tragic loss for the region is Yaroslav Petrovych Kikh, born in 1989 in Zhvirka village.
He was an excellent student at Zhvirka School and an active member of the Sokal Junior Academy of Sciences, where he presented research in history. Later, he graduated from the Rivne Institute of Slavic Studies in 2011, earning a degree in Philology and Linguistics.
A talented linguist, he spoke four foreign languages.
In 2019, Yaroslav married Antonina, also from Zhvirka, and together they welcomed a son, Yurii.
On August 22, 2024, Yaroslav voluntarily signed a contract with the Armed Forces of Ukraine and served as a sailor in the 35th Separate Marine Brigade named after Rear Admiral Mykhailo Ostrohradskyi (military unit A-0216). His sister Iryna and her husband have served in the same brigade since 2019.
He was planning to return home for his son’s birthday, but his life was cut short on March 10, 2025, during a combat mission.
The funeral will take place on October 17 at 2:00 p.m. near Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Sokal. The mourning procession will then move to Zhvirka, where a memorial service and burial will take place at the local cemetery.
Deepest condolences to his wife Antonina, son Yurii, parents Valentyna and Petro, sister Iryna, and the entire family.
Eternal memory and honor to Hero Yaroslav Kikh.