In the village of Ulychne, they accompanied Mykhailo Syrvatka on his final journey – a local resident and soldier who was killed at the front. The funeral procession set off from his parents’ home, where he was born and spent most of his life, and moved on to the burial place. The entire village gathered to say farewell to the defender, to honour his memory and support his family.
The funeral rite was conducted by three priests: Fr Petro Slyvka, Fr Yaroslav Melnyk from Ulychne and Fr Liubomyr Kushnir from Dobrohostiv. During his sermon in the yard of the family home, Father Petro spoke about Mykhailo’s life journey.
Mykhailo Syrvatka was born on 15 November 1978 into the family of Orest and Yaroslava in Ulychne. It was here that he grew up, went to school, left for the army, and after his service returned to his native home. Later he married Liudmyla, with whom he raised four children. Fellow villagers remember him as a good householder, an attentive neighbour and a man who was respected in Ulychne and beyond. He was especially happy at the birth of his granddaughter.
In November last year, at the age of 47, Mykhailo was mobilised into the army. He served as a driver in the 2nd mortar platoon of the motorised infantry battalion of military unit A3425. He last spoke to his family by phone on 6 August, the Feast of the Transfiguration of Our Lord. He said that conditions at the front were extremely difficult: frequent enemy shelling, the constant threat from drones. Despite this, he kept his faith and supported his loved ones and his comrades-in-arms.
On 8 August, Mykhailo was killed in action: an enemy drone struck the vehicle he was driving. His parents mourn the loss of a son, his sister – a brother, his wife – a husband, and his children – a father. For Ulychne and for the whole of Ukraine, this is another painful loss of a defender.
During the farewell, Father Petro compared the soldier’s death to the Dormition of the Mother of God, emphasising that for a person who has lived righteously and left behind a good legacy, death is a passage into another life. The priest stressed that those who have fallen defending the Fatherland receive special graces from God.
Friends, classmates, comrades-in-arms, fellow villagers, as well as relatives from Ulychne, Dobrohostiv and Truskavets came to say goodbye to Mykhailo Syrvatka. A long column of people stretched from his home to the church, where everyone had the opportunity to honour the soldier’s memory and thank him for his service and sacrifice.
Blessed be the memory of Mykhailo Syrvatka. Eternal honour to the fallen defender of Ukraine.