He died so that we could live… The story of Vasyl Hnatiuk from the cycle “Ukraine – the country of Heroes: figures that inspire us”
⠀⠀
Prepared by Solomiia Hnatiuk Solomiia, 11th grade student of Zhvyrkiv Secondary School, student of the Sokal Small Academy of Sciences for Pupils named after Ihor Bohachevskyi of the Sokal City Council.
Life is a rhythm, an endless dance of energies. It is the joy of perception of the world, love and respect for others, tolerant attitude towards people, love of the world and the magical manifestation of oneself as a person.
Vasyl Hnatiuk was such a sincere truth-teller who planted his own garden of life in his own way. Love grew and sprouted in him, kindness and care sang out, and all this gained momentum. He felt instant changes in the environment because he was a master of words. “There are no other people’s problems,” he used to say, and he always rushed to help not to satisfy his own ambitions, but rather out of friendship and readiness to serve his neighbour. In word and deed, with charisma. He dreamed to the fullest, cradled his embroidered fate and waited to meet his children and beloved wife again.
“Always cheerful, smiling and friendly… You loved to joke in every situation. I remember when our children complained about something – you would listen, and then start looking for something positive in a particular situation, correct them and start joking about the situation, we would all start laughing until we cried… This was always the case in our family. Lots of different stories….Now it’s not like that…”, the Hero’s wife, Tetiana Hnatiuk, posted on social media.
A native of the village of Zavyshen, his element was music, so he qualified as a director of a folk instruments orchestra. His students have repeatedly won national and international competitions, and the ensemble of pipers under his leadership has often represented Ukraine abroad, most often in the Republic of Poland. He sang in the youth choir of the Church of the Holy Spirit in Zhvyrka, Sokal Territorial Community. Every time he came back on holiday, he always came to church.
But in 2022, Vasyl changed his accordion and flute, his entire artistic life, for weapons and went to defend our homeland from the enemy. He knew a lot of songs, so during his short hours of rest, he would pick up the accordion and raise his morale. That is why his comrades gave him the call sign “Musician”.
He loved people, helped them, listened to them and understood their problems and concerns. He lived modestly, did not chase money, did not swear. He loved to talk and listen, and he knew with whom to spring and reap, because he had a knack for everything. In the family, he was the head, support, adviser and someone who was warm and friendly, who saw with an open heart and sought shelter. He was a kind-hearted man who thought positively and spoke to the point. He was a purposeful person.
To recap: On 24 July 2024, near the village of Kostiantynivka, Donetsk region, a resident of the village of Zavyshen, Vasyl Hnatiuk, born in 1977, died as a result of an enemy drone strike on his car.
And again, the memories are like an open wound. They burn, they burn, they bleed tearfully, but they still come out of my mother’s mouth. She shrivelled up, somehow aged, bent under the weight of them, and said: “My son grew up independent, he was the second child in the family, hardworking, dreamy and always protected his younger siblings. Vasyl’s duties included housework, he enjoyed cooking, cleaning, scrubbing and washing. He studied well, was diligent, and loved music most of all. He was tidy, always neat and ironed. He would light up when he was praised. Whether in the forest, in the park or in the field, he was observant and always found something, treated someone, brought sick animals and nursed them back to health. He went fishing and treasure hunting with his children. We had two children, Andrii and Solomiia. He loved me, appreciated me, and was always an assistant in everything. I am grateful to him for his filial kindness. I thought that in my old age I would have someone to warm my soul…”
I was never a hero. He was just like everyone else. He lived, worked, dreamed of a prosperous Ukraine, and wanted his children to be happy.
As a warrior, he had a strong belief in victory. A patriot, simple and majestic, brave and not so brave, different. But already there, in truth, God forgive him for all his sins, both free and not free.
He did not dream, did not love, did not listen, did not read, did not forgive, did not feel, did not meet, did not do. But in the hearts of his fellow villagers there is a flame of love, irresistible firmness and determination, a messenger who gave his life for us, those who will be able to continue planting his garden of unfading roses, who will be able to protect his wife and warm his children. He lit hearts with kindness, sacrifice, and love for others.
To recap: A memorial plaque to Junior Sergeant Vasyl Hnatiuk, commander of the second engineering and camouflage squad of the first engineering and camouflage platoon of the engineering and camouflage company of the A4733 military unit, was unveiled and consecrated on the facade of the Victor Matiuk Children’s Art School in Sokal.
He became the guardian of the village of Zavyshen, an angel of our everyday life, our present and our chosen future without wars, without violence, without aggression, without all that humiliates and offends us….
In word and deed, he made the village better, helped, fought, lived for us, his fellow villagers, sang in the church choir. He loved life, understood the greatness of Mother Nature, was a good Christian and a true patriot of Ukraine. He lived and created life in his own way, but always found time for us, his fellow villagers. That’s why 25 thousand people voted for him to be recognised as a Hero of Ukraine.
⠀ ⠀⠀
We honour him forever. Respect from us and gratitude for being able to live, create, love.
⠀ ⠀⠀
P.S. He is in our hearts, he is alive, open, sincere, fighting. Eternal memory to the Hero Vasyl Hnatiuk!
On 6 December, the Sokal City Council awarded the title of “Honorary Citizen of the Sokal City Territorial Community (posthumously) to the Defenders of Ukraine. Among them was Vasyl Hnatiuk.
