On Friday, March 1, Lviv will say goodbye to soldiers Volodymyr Yevstafiyev and Hennadiy Mykhalev, who defended Ukraine from Russian occupiers. Lviv City Hall calls on Lviv residents and guests to join the city’s farewell ceremony and refrain from holding entertainment events and celebrations during this time.
The funeral ceremony will begin at 11:00 a.m. in the Garrison Church of Ss. Peter and Paul, followed by a city farewell ceremony at 11:30 a.m. on Rynok Square. The soldiers will be buried at Lychakiv Cemetery.
Biographical information about the defenders
Volodymyr Yevstafiyev (13.12.1968-15.10.2023). A native of the village of Zhovta Krucha, Zaporizhzhia region.
He studied at the municipal institution “Zhovtokrucha secondary school of I-II levels”. He received his education at the State Educational Institution “Zaporizhzhia Professional Trade and Culinary Lyceum”. He served in the ranks of the anti-aircraft missile troops abroad.
After returning home, he first worked as a welder and later in the agricultural sector. He was fond of sports: he was actively involved in athletic gymnastics, and in recent years he was a freestyle wrestling coach for his daughter, who is studying at one of the sports colleges in Lviv.
With the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Russia, he volunteered to defend his homeland in the ranks of the 15th Brigade of Operational Purpose named after the Hero of Ukraine, Lieutenant Bohdan Zavada, of the Southern Operational and Territorial Association of the National Guard of Ukraine. He performed combat missions to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the state on the southern and eastern frontlines.
Volodymyr Yevstafiyev is survived by his wife, two daughters, a son, two granddaughters and a brother.
Hennadii Mykhalev (23.04.1990-22.02.2024). Born in Donetsk.
He studied at the Donetsk secondary school № 64 of the Donetsk City Council of the Donetsk region. He graduated from the Donetsk Professional Lyceum of Motor Vehicles, specializing in car repair.
After graduation, he served in the ranks of the anti-aircraft missile troops in Mariupol.
In 2014, Gennadiy Mikhalov’s family moved from his native Donetsk to Odesa. He said: “The oath is given only once in a lifetime. I will not serve another state.”
In Odesa, he worked as an auditor at the Antoshka chain of stores, while also working on his own projects in various fields. In his spare time, he was fond of motorcycling. According to his family, “Gennadiy Mykhalev was an extremely positive and smiling person, always ready to help, a loving and attentive father, son, and husband.”
From the first days of the full-scale invasion of Russia, the Mikhalov family moved to Lviv, and he voluntarily defended his homeland from the Russian invaders. He performed combat missions in the ranks of the 57th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade named after Kosh Ataman Kostyantyn Hordiienko of the Operational Command “South” of the Land Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He defended the state in Mykolaiv, Odesa and Kharkiv regions.
Hennadii Mykhalov is survived by his parents, brother, wife and 4-year-old daughter.