On Saturday, December 16, Lviv will say goodbye to servicemen Orest Van, Volodymyr Ivaniv and Serhiy Lytvyn, who died at the hands of the Russian occupiers while defending Ukraine. 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 servicemen’s funeral will begin at 11:00 a.m. in the Garrison Church of Sts. App. Peter and Paul, at 11:30 a city farewell ceremony will take place on Rynok Square. The soldiers will be buried at the Lychakiv cemetery.
Biographical references of defenders
Orest Van (March 23, 1969-December 3, 2023) was born in the village of Oselya, Lviv region.
He studied at Secondary Secondary School of Grades I-III No. 36 of the city of Lviv and Secondary Secondary School No. 72. He received his education at the State Educational Institution “Interregional Higher Vocational School of Communications of the City of Lviv”.
Orest Van devoted his entire life to the defense of Ukraine. He took a direct part in guarding the building of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine as part of the 9th Hundred of the Maidan Self-Defense Forces, while he was there he was seriously injured. He was one of 500 volunteers who in 2014 underwent military training and began to perform combat tasks in the area of the anti-terrorist operation.
Until 2021, he defended the eastern frontiers of the country as part of the Hero of Ukraine operational battalion of Major General Serhii Kulchytskyi of the National Guard of Ukraine.
After returning to civilian life, he was engaged in the installation of air conditioning systems. He was an exceptionally cheerful, creative and creative person, he was fond of cooking, he was constantly engaged in self-education, he read a lot – he always had an e-book with him. He constantly said that he was happy. According to his relatives, Orest Van “will always be a legend, an example of kindness, humanity, love and devotion to Ukraine.”
With the beginning of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation, he volunteered to return to the front as a member of the 503rd Separate Marine Battalion of the 38th Separate Marine Brigade of the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Despite the wound received in the village of Pisky, Donetsk region, he returned to the front.
Orest Vanya is survived by his wife, daughter, sister, nephews, godchildren and a son who defends the state on the front lines.
Volodymyr Ivaniv (July 27, 1983-December 11, 2023) from Lviv.
He studied at the Lviv Academic Gymnasium at the Lviv Polytechnic National University. In 2005, he graduated from Lviv Polytechnic University. Subsequently, he studied at the Ukrainian Lviv Institute of Business and Informatics.
In peacetime, he was a co-owner and deputy director of a private enterprise in the agricultural sector.
From the first days of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation, he volunteered to defend the Motherland from the Russian invaders. Performed combat missions on the territory of Donetsk, Luhansk and Zaporizhzhia regions in the ranks of the 78th separate airborne assault regiment “Herts” of the Airborne Assault Troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. For personal bravery, he was awarded the “Cross of Airborne Assault Troops” medal.
Volodymyr Ivaniv is survived by his parents, sister and nephews.
Serhii Lytvyn (23.01.1981-11.12.2023) Born in the city of Krymsk (Russia).
At a young age, together with his parents, he moved to the city of Volnovakha, Donetsk region. Studied at the Volnovask institution of general secondary education of the I-III degrees No. 7. Later, he entered the Donetsk National University named after Vasyl Stus, obtained three higher educations.
Since 2010, he worked as a teacher at the Novotroitsky Secondary School, teaching the history of Ukraine, computer science, defense of the Fatherland and law. He held the position of head of educational work. Lived in history, was also interested in military topics. He wrote his own book about the generals of the Poltava region during the Second World War. At the school, he led the children’s basketball section. He was an ardent fan of the Shakhtar Donetsk club.
On the eve of a full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation, he joined the ranks of the Volnova Territorial Defense. From the first days of the war, he performed combat missions as part of the 109th separate territorial defense brigade of the “East” Regional Directorate of the Territorial Defense Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Defended the state on the territory of Luhansk region, Kharkiv region and Donetsk region.
Serhiy Lytvyn is survived by his wife and two children.