Today in Sokal, the memory of their fellow countryman — soldier Andrii Vasyliuk, who gave his life for Ukraine in Donetsk Oblast — was honored. The defender was posthumously awarded the title of honorary citizen of the Sokal City Territorial Community, and the order and certificate were presented to his children. This is the story of a man who volunteered for the front — and did not return.
A Volunteer Who Stood Up to Defend
Andrii Vasyliuk was born on January 22, 1981, in the city of Sokal, Lviv Oblast.
In February 2024, he voluntarily joined the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and served in military unit A4941. Andrii served as a crew member of a mechanized squad — on one of the most difficult sections of the front.
The Last Battle Near Vozdvyzhenka
On July 23, 2024, while carrying out a combat mission near the settlement of Vozdvyzhenka, Pokrovsk District, Donetsk Oblast, soldier Andrii Vasyliuk was killed, remaining faithful to his military oath.
For almost seven months, the family lived in unbearable uncertainty — since July 2024, Andrii had been considered missing in action. Only on March 4, 2026, did DNA testing confirm his death. On March 17, Lviv Oblast accompanied the Hero on his final journey together with other fallen defenders.
The Order in Children’s Hands
Today’s ceremony in Sokal was especially poignant. By decision of the Sokal City Council, Andrii Vasyliuk was posthumously awarded the title of “Honorary Citizen of the Sokal City Territorial Community” — the community’s highest distinction.
The order and certificate were accepted from government representatives by the Hero’s children. The family stood nearby, wearing embroidered shirts, with red roses and blue-and-yellow ribbons. In the hall, beneath the national flag and coat of arms, the children stood before portraits of the community’s fallen warriors — and among them was a photo of their father.
These images need no words. Small hands holding a blue box with the order are the most precise image of the price Ukrainian families pay for freedom.
Blessed Memory
The community expresses its sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of Andrii Vasyliuk. His name is forever inscribed in the history of the Sokal region — alongside the names of other fellow countrymen who did not return from the war.
Eternal and blessed memory to the Hero. 🕯️