On Thursday, 20 June, Lviv will say goodbye to two soldiers. Andriy Popyk and Lyubomyr Khemiy defended Ukraine from the Russian invaders.
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 service for the defenders will begin at 11:00 a.m. in the Garrison Church of Ss. Peter and Paul, at 11:30 a city farewell ceremony will be held on Rynok Square.
The soldiers Andrii Popyk and Liubomyr Khemii will be buried at the Lychakiv Cemetery.
Biographical information on the defenders
Andrii Popyk (25.01.1984-14.06.2024) Born in the village of Deviatnyky, Lviv region.
He studied at Vasyl Stefanyk Secondary School No. 22 in Lviv. Subsequently, he entered Higher Vocational School No. 36 in Lviv (today – Lviv Vocational College of Food Technology and Business of NUFT), where he received a degree in Dairy Production. He continued his studies at the National University of Food Technologies, specialising in Food Technology and Engineering, and received a Bachelor’s degree in Food Technology and Engineering.
He worked in his speciality at Lviv City Dairy Plant and Concern Khlibprom. In 2013-2022, he worked in Poland. At the same time, he started training to become a dental assistant.
He loved travelling and had deep knowledge of the history of Ukraine. According to his family, “he always came to the aid of his friends and family”.
After the start of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation, he returned to Ukraine and, despite being dismissed from military service, stood up to defend his homeland. He performed combat missions to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Motherland as part of the 15th Operational Brigade named after the Hero of Ukraine Lieutenant Bohdan Zavada of the Southern Operational and Territorial Association of the National Guard of Ukraine (Kara-Dag). He served as the commander of the 2nd division of reconnaissance unmanned aerial vehicles of the platoon of special purpose unmanned aerial vehicles. He defended the state on the territory of Zaporizhzhia region.
Andrii Popyk is survived by his mother and sister.
Liubomyr Khemiy (29.09.1986-17.06.2024) A resident of Lviv.
He studied at Lyceum No. 21 of the Lviv City Council and at the Educational Complex “School of Engineering and Economics – Lviv Economic Lyceum”. He holds a master’s degree from the former University of Banking.
After graduation, he worked in the trade sector in Lviv. In his spare time, he was engaged in breakdancing.
In 2015, he volunteered to defend the state and performed combat missions in the anti-terrorist operation zone. With the beginning of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation, he returned to the Armed Forces. He served in the military unit A4152 of the Land Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Liubomyr Khemiy is survived by his mother and son.