On Thursday, March 7, Lviv will say goodbye to three soldiers. Viktor Kravets, Vitaliy Nezhynsky, and Dmytro Melnikov 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.
In the morning, at 08:00, a prayer and farewell service will be held in the Church of St. Panteleimon (23 Navrotskoho Street).
The funeral service for the defenders Viktor Kravets, Vitaliy Nezhynsky and Dmytro Melnikov will begin at 11:00 in the Garrison Church of the Apostles Peter and Paul, at 11:00 in the Church of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul. Peter and Paul, at 11:30 a city farewell ceremony will be held on Rynok Square.
Viktor Kravets and Vitaliy Nezhynsky will be buried at Lychakiv Cemetery, and Dmytro Melnikov will be buried at Holoskiv Cemetery.
Biographical information on the defenders
Viktor Kravets (13.03.1998-03.03.2024) Lviv resident.
Viktor Kravets (13.03.1998-03.03.2024) A resident of Lviv.
He studied at Lviv Secondary School No. 77 with in-depth study of economics and management. He graduated from the State Vocational Education Institution “Interregional Higher Vocational School of Road Transport and Construction”.
He worked as a driver at Epicenter K LLC. He was fond of cars. According to his family, he had a “strong but very kind character”.
With the beginning of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation, despite his lack of military experience and dismissal from military service for health reasons, he voluntarily defended his homeland from the invaders. He performed combat missions in the ranks of the 125th separate territorial defense brigade of the regional directorate “West” of the Territorial Defense Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
He was constantly improving his skills in sapper work and was promoted to the rank of “senior soldier” during his service.
Viktor Kravets is survived by his parents, wife, 4-year-old daughter and sister and her family.
Vitalii Nezhynskyi (18.10.1996-03.03.2024) was born in the city of Belz, Lviv region, in the family of a border guard.
Vitalii Nezhynskyi (18.10.1996-03.03.2024) was born in the town of Belz, Lviv region, in the family of a border guard.
He spent his school years in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, was a very positive, active and always smiling boy. He loved football and was actively involved in freestyle wrestling. With the blessing of Bishop Klyment of Crimea, he was a subdeacon of the Church of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross in Yevpatoria.
In 2012, he entered the medical college in Simferopol. He took a direct part in the events during the Revolution of Dignity, which forced him to leave Crimea and complete his studies at the Boryslav Professional Medical College, a municipal institution of the Lviv Regional Council.
He was a member of the Ukrainian Volunteer Corps “Right Sector” and performed combat missions in the anti-terrorist operation zone.
With the beginning of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation, he returned from abroad and stood up to defend his homeland from the occupiers. He said: “Someone has to do this job, and it is not surprising to me that I am that someone! I have always tried to live here and now. Because I knew that someday it would end. And now I am sure of it. I want to have time to do everything, because who knows what will happen tomorrow.”
He defended the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine as a member of the 3rd separate assault brigade of the Land Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. According to his family, he was a “master of his craft,” a persistent, courageous warrior who went his way with dignity and with his head held high.” He took part in the battles for Kyiv, performed missions on the southern and eastern directions.
For his personal heroism, he was awarded numerous decorations, including the honorary badges of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Steel Cross and the Golden Cross.
Vitaliy Nezhynskyi is survived by his parents, sister and fiancée.
Dmytro Melnikov (09.10.1987-01.03.2024) A native of Drohobych, Lviv region.
Dmytro Melnikov (09.10.1987-01.03.2024) was born in Drohobych, Lviv region.
He studied at Ivan Franko Lyceum No. 1 of the Drohobych City Council. He graduated from the Higher Vocational School No. 19 in Drohobych, specializing in cooks and pastry chefs.
After graduation, he worked as a chef in Lviv and abroad, and most recently in Odesa. He dreamed of working in a Michelin-starred restaurant in the future.
With the beginning of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation, he stood up to defend his homeland from the occupiers. He performed tasks to protect the territorial integrity and independence of the state on the southern and eastern directions in the ranks of the 37th Separate Marine Brigade of the Ukrainian Navy. He held the position of cook of the supply platoon’s economic department.
Dmytro Melnikov is survived by his parents, brother and sister.