On Thursday, August 24, Lviv will say goodbye to three servicemen. Anatoly Marko, Ilya Pelikh, Ihor Gordon died defending Ukraine from the Russian invaders. The City Hall calls on Lviv residents and guests to join the city’s farewell ceremony and to refrain from entertainment events and celebrations during this time.
The funeral service of the military will begin at 2:00 p.m. in the Garrison Church of Sts. App. Peter and Paul, at 2:30 p.m. a city farewell ceremony will be held on Rynok Square. The soldiers will be buried at the Lychakiv cemetery.
Biographical references of defenders
Anatoly Marko (September 20, 1969-August 13, 2023) from Lviv.
He studied at Secondary School No. 85 (now Vasyl Simonenko Lyceum). Acquired the profession of “locksmith-toolmaker” at the former Secondary Vocational and Technical School No. 25 in the city of Lviv. After completing his studies, he served in the military.
In peacetime, he worked at the “Electron” Television Plant in Lviv. In his free time from work, he was fond of reading literature, liked to fish. He adored the Ukrainian song.
He was an exceptional patriot of his country, one of the founders of the All-Ukrainian public organization “Ukrainian People’s Defense”. Took an active part in the events during the Orange Revolution and the Revolution of Dignity, where he was wounded.
Performed combat tasks in the anti-terrorist operation zone as part of the reconnaissance battalion of the UNSO. He was extremely devoted to his brothers and his work.
With the beginning of the full-scale invasion, he fought with the Russian occupiers in the eastern direction in the ranks of the 80th separate airborne assault brigade of the Airborne Assault Troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Despite the injury, he returned to the front. According to the family, for Anatoly Mark the truth and “Nenka-Ukraine” were above everything, even above life.
The soldier is survived by a brother and two children.
Ilya Pelikh (July 27, 1983-August 18, 2023) was born in Khodoryv, Lviv region.
He studied at the Communal Institution of General Secondary Education I-III Degrees No. 3 named after the Hero of Ukraine Roman Tochyn in the city of Khodoryv, later at the Support Communal Institution of General Secondary Education I-III Degrees No. 1. Graduated from the Ukrainian Academy of Printing.
After completing his studies, he served in the military as part of the 80th separate airborne assault brigade of the Airborne Assault Troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
For 10 years, he worked as a production engineer at NG Metal Ukraine. Subsequently, he held the position of “Senior Java Developer” at the company “Luxoft”.
He loved life and people, he was ready to help everyone. He was very purposeful, constantly developing. He was fond of skiing, mountain tourism, loved to travel, adored animals.
With the beginning of a full-scale invasion, he joined the ranks of the 14th brigade of the operational assignment named after Ivan Bohun of the Western operational-territorial unit of the National Guard of Ukraine to defend the Motherland from the Russian invaders. Performed combat missions in the southern direction.
Ilya Pelikha is survived by his mother, wife, sister, cousin and niece.
Ihor Gordon (February 4, 1998-August 18, 2023) from Lviv.
Studied at the Lviv secondary school of grades I-III No. 82 of the Lviv city council of the Lviv region. He was engaged in boxing, athletics, and luge, and won a considerable number of awards.
Subsequently, he received an education in the specialty “installation, maintenance of equipment and gas supply systems” at the Separate structural unit “Technical and Economic College of the National University “Lviv Polytechnic”. At that time, Igor Gordon’s greatest passion was mountain tourism.
He worked as a car mechanic at the Toyota Center Lviv Diamant service station.
With the beginning of a full-scale invasion, he stood up to protect the Motherland from the Russian invaders. He performed combat tasks as part of the 14th brigade of the operational assignment named after Ivan Bohun of the Western operational-territorial unit of the National Guard of Ukraine. During his service, he earned the rank of junior sergeant.
Igor Gordon is survived by his parents, brother and fiancée.