On this Good Friday, the Sokal community mourns the passing of Mykhailo Prokopovych Kutsyaba, a former liaison for the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), who died at the age of 89.
Born on November 21, 1935, in the village of Pyratyn near Radekhiv in Lviv region, Mykhailo lived through the harsh realities of Soviet repression and war:
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In 1943, his father was forcibly taken to Nazi Germany for labor and never returned.
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In 1947, his older brother was arrested for participating in the OUN underground and sentenced to 10 years in a GULAG, where he died after two years.
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Later that year, Soviet authorities deported his mother, two sisters, and grandfather to Siberia.
At just 12 years old, Mykhailo evaded capture and lived in hiding with relatives for four years until he was discovered and forced to reunite with his family in Prokopyevsk, Kemerovo region. The family returned to Ukraine in the early 1960s.
In October 2020, the Sokal City Council awarded him the title of “Honorary Citizen of Sokal” for his patriotic spirit, principled civic stance, and contributions to the Ukrainian national cause and identity.
Farewell ceremonies:
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A prayer service (Parastas) will be held today, April 18, at 7:00 PM at his family home, 19 Sahaidachnoho Street in Sokal.
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The funeral will take place on April 19.
The Sokal City Council extends its deepest condolences to the family and honors the memory of a man who stood firm for Ukraine. Eternal glory to the Hero.