Sokal region mourns the loss of another Hero — 56-year-old Ivan Petrovych Zaiats has died in the war defending Ukraine. He was a resident of Sokal and originally from the village of Potorytsia.
Born on January 20, 1969, Ivan graduated from the Sokal boarding school and continued his education at Vocational School No. 17 in Lviv, where he became a trained carpenter. Throughout his life, he worked at various enterprises in the Sokal region.
Together with his wife Lyubov, he raised their daughter Svitlana and later welcomed son-in-law Serhii into the family.
On June 24, 2024, Ivan was drafted into the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He served as a Senior Sergeant and an inspector of the Border Guard Service, First Department, Unit 2144.
Tragically, on December 11, 2025, he died from severe injuries sustained near the village of Mykhalchyna Sloboda in the Novhorod-Siverskyi district of Chernihiv region.
The community of Sokal extends heartfelt condolences to his wife Lyubov, daughter Svitlana, son-in-law Serhii, his brother, sister, and the entire family.
Details regarding the Hero’s return and burial ceremony will be announced later.
Eternal memory to the Defender of Ukraine!