On Saturday, 25 May, Lviv will say goodbye to three soldiers. Oleksandr Rudskyi, Oleh Kovts, and Yevhen Kuznetsov defended Ukraine from 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.
Oleksandr Rudskyi and Oleh Kovets will be buried at the Lychakiv Cemetery, and Yevhen Kuznetsov will be buried at the Holoskiv Cemetery.
Biographical references of the defenders
Oleksandr Rudskyi (04.03.1982-29.02.2024) A resident of Lviv.
He studied at Lyceum No. 37 of the Lviv City Council. He graduated from Higher Vocational School No. 52 in Lviv (today – State Educational Institution “Lviv Interregional Higher Vocational School of Railway Transport”) with a degree in High Voltage Electrician.
In peacetime, he worked first at the Regional Branch of the Lviv Railway, and later at Barkom Limited Liability Company. He was a kind, sensitive person, a loving father and husband.
With the beginning of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation, he joined the 141st separate infantry brigade of the Land Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to defend his homeland. He performed combat missions to defend the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the state in the southern direction of the frontline.
Oleksandr Rudskyi is survived by his parents, wife, two children and a sister.
Oleh Kovts (16.10.1973-16.05.2024) Born in the village of Dmytrovychi, Lviv region. He lived in Lviv since 1977.
He studied at the secondary school №42 in Lviv. Lviv. He continued his studies at Lviv Vocational School 50, where he received a degree in radio equipment and instrumentation installation. Later, he received a degree in car repair. He was an extremely skilful driver.
After graduation, he served in the military in Khmelnytskyi and Vinnytsia.
Most recently, he was engaged in furniture making and dreamed of starting his own business. He was fond of fishing and football. According to his family, he was a kind, honest, fair man, a true lover of life. He was always ready to help.
With the beginning of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation, he volunteered to join the 103rd separate territorial defence brigade. Subsequently, he fought against the occupiers as part of the 116th separate mechanised brigade of the first mechanised battalion of the Land Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He performed combat missions to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the state in Sumy, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk and Kharkiv regions. He held the positions of platoon commander and squad leader, took care of his comrades-in-arms and treated them with great care. He was a loving husband, son, father and grandfather.
Oleg Kovets is survived by his mother, wife, two daughters, brother and grandson.
Yevhen Kuznetsov (“Student”) (03.07.1988-19.05.2024) Born in Kyiv.
In 2003, he graduated from the secondary school of I-III degrees No. 3 in Irpin. Irpin. Later, he received a degree in carpentry and woodworking at the Lviv Professional Lyceum of Design and Construction. In 2012, he graduated from the National Forestry University of Ukraine.
A participant in the events of the Revolution of Dignity, until 2017 he performed combat missions in the anti-terrorist operation zone as part of the 93rd separate mechanised brigade “Kholodnyi Yar” of the operational command “East” of the Land Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
After returning, he worked first in the field of property protection services in Lviv, and later in woodworking and furniture production. According to his family, Yevhen Kuznetsov achieved everything on his own and always sought justice, helped and defended everyone; he was a loyal and fearless warrior. He was fond of history, chess, and was interested in ancient values.
From the first days of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation, he joined the 80th separate airborne assault brigade of the Galician Air Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to defend the state from the invaders. He performed combat missions in Mykolaiv region.
Yevhen Kuznetsov is survived by his daughter, son, wife, grandmother, brother, sister, aunt and uncle.