Mykhailo Pentsak, a defender from the Velyki Mosty community, was killed on 5 September 2024 while carrying out a combat mission in the settlement of Chasiv Yar, Bakhmut district, Donetsk region. He was 35 years old.
Mykhailo was born in the village of Boyanets. He spent his school years in Turynka, after which he entered the Technical College of the Lviv Polytechnic National University and graduated in 2009. He linked his professional life with the coal industry: he worked at the Zarychna mine, and from 2014 at the Lisova mine as an underground miner in a heading face.
Colleagues and acquaintances remember Mykhailo as an honest, fair and kind person who had many friends, was a conscientious worker and a reliable comrade. In time, defending Ukraine became the main cause of his life.
In 2020 he joined the ranks of the country’s defenders in the ATO zone and was awarded the medal “Participant of the ATO”. At the start of the full-scale invasion, Mykhailo was in Lysychansk, and later continued his service in the Bakhmut sector, where he took part in the defence of the city of Bakhmut from Russian forces. For these battles he was awarded the distinction “For the Defence of the City of Bakhmut”.
At the front, Mykhailo carried out the most difficult tasks, remaining loyal to his comrades-in-arms. He served as a squad commander — vehicle commander in a technical reconnaissance platoon. According to those who fought alongside him, he repeatedly came to the rescue, and was a brave, dependable friend and a true commander.
Relatives and comrades recall that Mykhailo was merciless towards the enemy, yet caring and loving towards those close to him. They describe him as a person with a kind heart, a sincere soul and an unbreakable character. He gave his life so that Ukrainians could live, work, raise children and freely call Ukraine their Homeland.
In mourning for Mykhailo are his mother, father, sister with her family, relatives, friends, comrades-in-arms, and the entire Velyki Mosty community.
For his courage, bravery and heroism, Mykhailo Pentsak was posthumously awarded the Cross of the Hero, an order of the 24th Separate Mechanised Brigade named after King Danylo. He was also recognised for his courage, heroism and selflessness shown in defending the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine with a state award — the Order of the President of Ukraine “For Courage” III class. In addition, he was posthumously given the honorary title “Hero of the Velyki Mosty Territorial Community”.
The passing years do not erase either the pain of loss for his loved ones or the memory of the feat of Mykhailo Pentsak. In the Velyki Mosty community, he is remembered not only as a soldier who fell on the battlefield, but also as a son, brother, friend and comrade-in-arms who had his own dreams and plans, yet gave up his future for the sake of Ukraine.