On Tuesday, August 22, Lviv will say goodbye to three servicemen. Roman Potishka, Volodymyr Zelinsky, Ostap Savka defended 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.
Roman Potishko’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 funeral of Volodymyr Zelinskyi and Ostap Savka 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
Roman Potishka (June 13, 1995-April 7, 2022) was born in Kropyvnytskyi, Kirovohrad Region.
Studied at Lyceum No. 93 of the Lviv City Council. He received his education at the Separate Structural Unit “Kryvyi Rih Vocational College of the National Aviation University”, later entered the National Aviation University. I dreamed of becoming a pilot.
Skillfully played football, was an ardent fan of FC Karpaty. In August 2014, he joined the ranks of the newly formed “Azov” regiment as a volunteer. He took an active part in the Pavlopil-Shyrokin offensive operation, as well as in the defense of the Svitlodar arc, Maryinka, and Krasnohorivka.
The beginning of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation was met by senior lieutenant Roman Potishka, the commander of the 3rd combat group of the Separate Special Forces “Azov”, together with his unit in Mariupol.
For his personal heroism, he was awarded several state awards, in particular, the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytskyi, III degree. By the decree of the President of Ukraine dated April 17, 2022, he was awarded the Order “For Courage” of the 3rd degree (posthumously), and was also awarded the title of “captain” (posthumously).
Ostap Savka (February 19, 1987-August 16, 2023) from Lviv.
He studied at the Lviv secondary comprehensive school of grades I-III No. 7. He graduated from the Technical and Economic College of the Lviv Polytechnic National University. Subsequently, he studied at the Faculty of Economics of the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv.
After completing his studies, he served in the military in Lviv and Poltava regions. He worked at one of the local private enterprises.
In his free time, he was fond of football, music, and had a great talent for drawing since childhood.
With the beginning of a full-scale invasion, he stood up to protect the Motherland from the Russian invaders. Performed combat missions in the eastern direction in the ranks of the 1st separate Feodosia Marine Battalion of the 36th Separate Marine Brigade named after Rear Admiral Mykhailo Bilinskyi of the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Ostap Savka is survived by his parents, a brother and his wife, and a nephew.
Volodymyr Zelinskyi (12/18/1971-08/18/2023) was born in Chernivtsi in a military family.
Studied at Secondary Secondary School No. 32 of the city of Lviv. In 1993, he graduated from the Kaliningrad Higher Engineering School of the Engineering Forces, earning the rank of “senior lieutenant”.
Personnel military serviceman. He held positions from the head of the radiation, chemical, biological protection and environmental safety department to the platoon commander. In his free time, he was fond of fishing.
In 2013, Volodymyr Zelinsky was awarded the title of “captain”. Subsequently, he performed combat missions in the area of the anti-terrorist operation.
With the beginning of a full-scale invasion, he stood up to protect the Motherland from the invaders. He defended the territorial integrity and independence of the state in the ranks of the 101st separate territorial defense brigade of the “West” Regional Directorate of the Territorial Defense Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Volodymyr Zelinsky is survived by cousins and a brother and nephews.