On Wednesday, 21 August, Lviv will say goodbye to six servicemen. Myroslav Martyniuk, Vitaliy Polovenko, Eduard Sydorenko, Volodymyr Voitkovsky, Kostyantyn Pokrovsky, and Andriy Verbytsky were killed by Russian occupiers while defending Ukraine.
The mayor’s office calls on residents to join the city’s funeral ceremony and refrain from holding entertainment events and celebrations during this time.
The funeral service for the defenders Myroslav Martyniuk, Vitaliy Polovenko and Eduard Sydorenko will begin at 11:00 a.m. in the Garrison Church of Ss. Peter and Paul, and at 11:30 a city farewell ceremony will be held on Rynok Square. The soldiers will be buried at Lychakiv Cemetery.
The funeral service for the defenders Volodymyr Voitkovsky and Kostyantyn Pokrovsky will begin at 14:00 in the Garrison Church of Ss. Peter and Paul, at 14:30 a city farewell ceremony will be held on Rynok Square. The soldiers will be buried at Lychakiv Cemetery.
The funeral service for the defender Andriy Verbytskyi will begin at 14:00 in the Church of the Apostles Peter and Paul at 15 Lukasevych Street (Riasna). Peter and Paul at 15 Lukasevycha Street (Ryasne). The soldier will be buried in the Ryasne cemetery.
Biographical information about the defenders
Myroslav Martyniuk (09.12.1982-30.07.2024) was a resident of Lviv.
He studied at the Ivan Franko Lyceum #51 of the Lviv City Council. He later received a law degree.
For some time, he worked as an investigator in the internal affairs agencies. Later, he signed a contract with the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. In his spare time, he loved outdoor activities and was fond of cars.
He first served in the 7th Carpathian Border Guard Detachment. With the beginning of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation, after undergoing training abroad, he performed combat missions to protect the sovereignty and independence of the state as part of the 3rd Border Guard Detachment of the Luhansk Border Guard named after the Hero of Ukraine Colonel Yevhen Pikus of the Eastern Regional Directorate of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. He fought against the occupiers in Donetsk region and was promoted to lieutenant during his service.
Myroslav Martyniuk is survived by his mother, wife, two children, brother and brother’s wife.
Vitalii Polovenko (05.09.1997-07.08.2024) was a resident of Lviv.
He studied at the Iryna Kalynets Secondary School No. 87 of the Lviv City Council. He graduated from Secondary Vocational School No. 18 in Lviv. Lviv (today – State Educational Institution “Lviv Higher Vocational School of Trade and Services”). After graduation, he worked in his speciality for a certain period of time.
He did his military service in Poltava. During 2018-2021, he performed combat missions in the Joint Forces Operation area as part of the artillery troops.
After returning, he worked in the field of cooking.
With the beginning of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation, he first defended Sknyliv airfield. Later he fought against the invaders in Kharkiv, Sumy and Donetsk regions in the ranks of the 46th separate airmobile brigade of the Air Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Vitaliy Polovenko is survived by his two grandmothers, parents and sister.
Eduard Sydorenko (03.01.1985-14.08.2024) was born in the village of Bilohorivka, Luhansk region.
He studied at Bilohorivka Lyceum in Sievierodonetsk district, Luhansk region. He graduated from the Lysychansk Mining and Industrial Vocational College. After graduation, he worked as a miner.
Since 2015, he has been performing combat missions in the anti-terrorist operation/Joint Forces operation zone.
With the beginning of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation, Eduard Sydorenko’s family moved to Lviv. Here he defended the state from the invaders. He performed tasks to protect the independence and territorial integrity of the Motherland in Donetsk region in the 111th separate territorial defence brigade of the “East” regional directorate of the Territorial Defence Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He was awarded numerous decorations for the conscientious performance of his duty to the state.
Eduard Sydorenko is survived by his wife and three children.
Volodymyr Voitkovskyi (23.08.1988-15.08.2024) was born in Sokal, Lviv region. Later his family moved to Kharkiv region.
He studied at the Bratenytska gymnasium in Kharkiv region. After graduation, he served in the Internal Troops.
He worked in the field of property protection services and was fond of fishing in his spare time. According to his family, he was extremely “calm, sincere and kind”.
In 2020, Volodymyr Voitkovskyi’s family returned to the Lviv region.
From the first months of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation, he volunteered to defend the state from the invaders. He defended Ukraine as a member of the 704th separate regiment of radiation, chemical and biological defence of the Land Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He took part in the liberation of the Kherson region, fought against the occupiers in the Donetsk sector. Despite being wounded, he returned to the front. He was awarded numerous decorations for his personal courage.
Volodymyr Voitkovskyi is survived by his parents, wife, daughter and two brothers.
Kostiantyn Pokrovskyi (19.01.1979-16.08.2024) was a resident of Lviv.
He studied at the secondary school No. 48 in Lviv. Immediately after graduation, he started working at the Electron television equipment factory.
During the last period, he was engaged in computer repair and software installation. He loved his job. He was also fond of football and took an active part in football competitions among his neighbours. According to his family, he was a very kind and fair man.
With the beginning of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation, despite his dismissal from military service, he voluntarily defended the state from the invaders. He defended the state in the Kharkiv region as part of the mortar battery of the military unit A4951. He was highly respected among his colleagues.
Kostiantyn Pokrovskyi is survived by his parents and sister.
Andrii Verbytskyi (29.09.1984-13.08.2024) was a resident of Lviv.
He studied at the Lyceum №94 of the Lviv City Council. He graduated from the Lviv Vocational School No. 12 (today – the State Educational Institution “Lviv Higher Vocational Art School”).
He worked in the construction industry and was engaged in repair work. In his spare time, he was fond of fishing, mushroom picking, and loved walks in the woods. According to his family, he was “very stubborn, determined and especially valued his family”.
With the beginning of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation, he stood up to defend the state from the occupiers. He defended the sovereignty and independence of Ukraine in the ranks of the 3rd Battalion Tactical Group of the 80th separate Air Assault Brigade of the Air Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He performed missions in the Kharkiv and Sumy regions.
Andrii Verbytskyi is survived by his mother, wife and three children.