Tomorrow, on 7 October, Lviv will say goodbye to three servicemen. Oleksiy Ostapchuk, Ivan Lazar and Volodymyr Burak 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 ceremony for defenders Oleksiy Ostapchuk, Ivan Lazar and Volodymyr Burak 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 will be buried at Lychakiv Cemetery.
Biographical information about the defenders
Ivan Lazar (24.05.1983-30.09.2024) was born in the village of Seredkevychi, Lviv region.
He graduated from the Seredkevychi secondary school of the Yavoriv City Council, Lviv region.
After graduation, he worked first in construction and later in the hotel and restaurant industry. He was fond of fishing, according to his family, “he had golden hands”.
With the beginning of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation, he joined the ranks of the 100th Separate Mechanised Brigade of the Land Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to defend the state from the occupiers. He defended the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the state on the eastern frontline.
Ivan Lazar is survived by his wife, two children, a brother with his family and a large family.
Volodymyr Burak (10.01.1989-30.09.2024) was a resident of Lviv.
He studied at Lyceum No. 18 of the Lviv City Council. He graduated from the Lviv Interregional Higher Vocational School of Railway Transport and later entered Lviv Polytechnic National University.
After graduation, he served in the Donetsk region.
Throughout his life, he worked in various fields, and most recently was engaged in private entrepreneurship. He loved to spend time outdoors, was fond of gardening, mountain tourism and football. According to his family, Volodymyr Burak “was a special, extraordinary husband and father and loved life.”
With the beginning of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation, he joined the 80th separate airborne assault brigade of the Air Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to defend the state from the invaders. Even while in the combat zone, Volodymyr Burak did not miss the opportunity to invent and record bedtime stories for his children.
The Hero is survived by his mother, wife, two children and sister.
Oleksii Ostapchuk (24.04.1994-14.08.2024) was born in the village of Vynohradove, Kherson region.
He studied at the Vynohradiv Lyceum named after O.M. Sotsenko of the Vynohradiv Village Council. He received vocational education in Kherson.
After graduation, he joined the military. He was codenamed “Cyborg” and performed combat missions in the anti-terrorist operation zone since 2014.
After leaving the service, Oleksiy Ostapchuk moved to Lviv. Here, he worked in the restaurant industry and was fond of mountain tourism.
From the first days of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation, he volunteered to defend the capital. He fought against the Russian invaders in Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia and in the “hot spots” of Donetsk region, first as a member of the 128th separate mountain assault brigade of Transcarpathia, and more recently – of the 3rd separate assault brigade of the Land Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He was awarded numerous decorations for personal heroism in combat missions.
Oleksii Ostapchuk is survived by his wife and daughter.