Ukrainian Lawyers at War: The Fifth Year of the Full-Scale Invasion

Kateryna Andreieva, exclusively for Yurydychna Practyka
Viktoriia Cherkasova, Yurydychna Practyka

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has continued for more than 1,680 days. To mark Ukrainian Lawyers’ Day (8 October), we decided to undertake the first comprehensive study of the Ukrainian legal profession’s involvement in the war. Our aim was to bring together information that can currently be verified through publicly available and official sources: how many legal professionals have joined Ukraine’s Defense Forces, where and in what capacities they serve, what military ranks they have attained, which state and military honors they have received, and, most painfully, which members of the legal community have lost their lives over the course of the war.

The idea behind such a study is not new. In 1947, following the Second World War, the British legal community published The Law Society Annual Reports, 1939-1946, documenting the number of solicitors and trainee solicitors who had served in the armed forces, the number of those killed or taken prisoner of war, and even a comprehensive list of military decorations they had received.

Unlike the British compilers of those reports, we cannot currently provide a comprehensive answer to any of these questions. The war is ongoing, and much of the information concerning military personnel cannot be disclosed. Ukraine has no centralized system for tracking legal professionals who join military service. Our study will therefore inevitably be incomplete. Nevertheless, we believe it is imperative to begin this work.

It is also important to clarify who we consider legal professionals for this study. Ukrainian Lawyers’ Day is a professional holiday that brings together a broad range of people who have obtained a legal education and built their careers around it. Some pursue careers in legal practice, the public service, or the judiciary after graduating from university. Others become investigators, prosecutors, enforcement officers, or employees of law enforcement agencies, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), or the penitentiary system. Others work as in-house counsel, insolvency practitioners, patent attorneys, notaries, or legal academics, while some, despite holding law degrees, pursue careers in business, management, or other fields.

All of them belong to a large professional community comprising hundreds of thousands of people across Ukraine. Every year on 8 October, they receive greetings on Ukrainian Lawyers’ Day, regardless of their current job title or role: lawyer, judge, prosecutor, investigator, company director, or member of the armed forces.

This year, Ukraine celebrates the 35th anniversary of its independence. For the Ukrainian legal profession, this also marks a significant milestone: many of the country’s modern legal institutions, professional associations, and generations of Ukrainian legal professionals have emerged and developed during the years of independence.

At the same time, another date is approaching, one that can hardly be described as an anniversary in the conventional sense: five years after the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Over this period, the legal profession has undergone a transformation that would have been difficult to imagine in a country at peace. Thousands of people who, until recently, had entered courtrooms wearing judicial robes or carrying their bar identification cards, represented the prosecution in criminal proceedings, conducted investigations, notarized legal transactions, worked in corporate legal departments, or taught law to students have exchanged their professional attire for military uniforms.

For some, the war began not in 2022, but in 2014. Some legal professionals served in the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) and the Joint Forces Operation (JFO), returned to legal practice, and then rejoined the military after 24 February 2022. Others took to arms for the first time during the full-scale invasion. Some were mobilized, while others voluntarily reported to military recruitment offices in the first hours and days of the full-scale war.

On the front lines, however, they have by no means always served as military lawyers. Qualified legal professionals have become infantry soldiers, artillery personnel, reconnaissance specialists, snipers, operators of anti-tank missile systems and unmanned systems, communications specialists, combat medics, and electronic warfare specialists. Today, they command platoons, companies, and fire support units, serving in the Territorial Defense Forces, mechanized and air assault units, artillery formations, the National Guard, and special operations units.

That is why, as the fifth anniversary of the full-scale invasion approaches, we wanted to look back at the journey the legal profession has undergone during these years and attempt to assess its tangible, rather than merely declared, contribution to Ukraine’s defense. We wanted to look beyond the collective term “legal professionals” and recognize the individuals behind it. More than 450 responses to our requests for information, official data from government bodies and professional institutions, presidential decrees, reports from military units, and the personal accounts of legal professionals themselves form the basis of this study. Together, these sources make it possible, for the first time, to piece together at least part of this much larger picture.

This emerging picture reveals a side of the legal profession that was rarely discussed just five years ago: not only as a profession dedicated to upholding the law, but also as a community of people who have taken up arms to defend the state in which the rule of law must prevail. And today, the Ukrainian legal community has so much to be proud of. Behind the stark figures of our study lie hundreds of personal stories: experiences of combat, military service, wounds sustained, decorations earned, and, sadly, lives lost. All of this has already become part of the Ukrainian legal profession’s history – a history that deserves to be documented and preserved.

Members of the Legal Profession Who Are Serving or Have Served in the Military Since 24 February 2022 (as of 1 July 2026)

Legal Profession / Institution	Currently Serving or Previously Served in the Military	Killed	Missing in Action
Legal practice (advocates and legal assistants)	Over 2,000*	Over 50**	N/A
Insolvency practitioners	70	5	1
Judiciary (judges and court staff)	550***	2	1
Prosecutor’s offices	700	26	—
State Bureau of Investigation	3	3****	—
Ministry of Justice of Ukraine (central office)	19	1	—
State Criminal Enforcement Service	57	6	—
Interregional Departments of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine	273	5	—
Interregional Departments for the Enforcement of Criminal Sentences of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine	13	—	—
Penal institutions and pre-trial detention centers	153	12	—
State Institution “Probation Center”	2	—	—
Penitentiary Academy of Ukraine	15	—	—
Interregional Free Legal Aid Centers	84	1	—
State Enterprise “SETAM”	10	—	—
State Enterprise “National Information Systems”	40	—	—
Institute of Forensic Examinations	16	—	—
Research Center for Forensic Examination of Information Technologies and Intellectual Property	2	—	—
Research Institutes of Forensic Examinations and Regional Divisions	31	—	—
Ukrainian National Office for Intellectual Property and Innovations (UANIPIO) and Patent Attorneys	11	—	—
TOTAL	Over 4,000	Over 120	2

Notes:
* Approximate figures provided by the Ukrainian National Bar Association (UNBA) as of June 2024, published in Decision No. 38 of 8 June 2024, “On Violations of Advocates’ Professional Rights and Guarantees of Legal Practice During Mobilization Measures.”
** Based on publications available at unba.org.ua, lawyersmemory.org, and advokatpost.com.
*** Approximate figures cited in October 2025 by Oleh Tkachuk, Academic Secretary of the Scientific Advisory Council at the Supreme Court and Justice of the Grand Chamber of the Supreme Court, in a comment to Kyiv Post.
**** Based on publications available at dbr.gov.ua, memorial.ua, and fakty.com.ua.

The Bar

The total number of Ukrainian advocates and advocates’ assistants who have served or are currently serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military formations since 24 February 2022 remains unknown. However, the Council of Advocates of Ukraine previously reported that more than 2,000 advocates had taken up arms to defend Ukraine as members of the Armed Forces and Territorial Defense Forces since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. This represents a confirmed minimum figure recorded as of 8 June 2024, rather than an up-to-date overall total. The figure does not include a separate count of advocates’ assistants.

At the beginning of the full-scale invasion, many advocates joined the Armed Forces and Territorial Defense Forces. In Decision No. 24 of 3 March 2022, the Council of Advocates of Ukraine determined that advocates performing military or alternative service during martial law would not be considered to be in breach of the professional incompatibility requirements, and that such service would not constitute grounds for disciplinary liability.

However, this decision did not entitle mobilized advocates to engage in legal practice while simultaneously performing military service. In 2024, the Ukrainian National Bar Association (UNBA) separately emphasized the need to resolve the incompatibility between advocate status and military service. Subsequently, taking into account a specific directive issued by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Council of Advocates of Ukraine adopted Decision No. 26 of 7 June 2024, repealing Decision No. 24.

Following this, military units began compiling lists of service members who held advocate status and requiring them to resolve the incompatibility, including by suspending their right to practice law in accordance with Article 7 of the Law of Ukraine “On the Bar and Practice of Law.” However, the mere fact that an advocate has suspended their legal practice does not establish whether the suspension is specifically related to military service, as advocates may suspend their practice for other reasons provided for by law.

The Unified Register of Advocates of Ukraine (URAU) does not separately identify advocates who are currently in service or have previously served in the military. According to the UNBA, as of April 2026, the register contained records of 73,316 advocates. Of these, 48,309 held a status indicating that their right to practice law had not been suspended, terminated, or revoked, while 25,007 records concerned advocates whose right to practice was subject to one of these statuses. However, the latter figure cannot be used to estimate the number of advocates serving in the military, since the reasons for suspending or terminating legal practice vary and, in most cases, are unrelated to mobilization.

The URAU also does not contain a separate designation identifying advocates’ assistants who have performed military service. As of December 2024, approximately 3,500 advocates’ assistants were registered. However, the number who serve or have served in the Armed Forces of Ukraine or other military formations remains unknown.

The Ukrainian Bar also suffered losses during the war. The exact number of Ukrainian advocates killed while performing military service since 24 February 2022 has not been officially established. Over the years, the UNBA has reported the deaths of individual advocates and stated that “dozens” of its colleagues have been killed since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. However, it has not published a consolidated list of names or comprehensive statistics. In August 2026, the Council of Advocates of Ukraine launched a digital project entitled Wall of Remembrance and Honor and began collecting information about advocates and advocates’ assistants who have lost their lives due to the war. The launch of this initiative indicates that a centralized record of these casualties is still being developed.

Insolvency Practitioners

According to the National Association of Insolvency Practitioners of Ukraine (NAIPU), approximately 70 insolvency practitioners have served or continue to serve in Ukraine’s Defense Forces since 24 February 2022. More than 40 of them have been granted war veteran status, including combat veteran status or recognition as persons with disabilities resulting from the war.

During the full-scale war, five insolvency practitioners have been killed or died while performing military service, while another practitioner has been reported missing in action. However, NAIPU cautions that these figures may be incomplete, as the Association does not maintain military service records and compiles its statistics based on the information available to it, including reports from service members and veterans themselves.

Insolvency practitioners have received 30 confirmed awards and departmental decorations, including some of Ukraine’s highest state honors: the title of Hero of Ukraine with the Order of the Gold Star, the Order for Courage (Third Class), the Cross of Military Merit, and the Presidential Decoration “For the Defense of Ukraine.”

The Ministry of Justice of Ukraine and Its Subordinate Institutions

Based on our analysis of responses to information requests received from the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, as well as bodies, institutions, organizations, and enterprises within the justice system, we established that at least 664 employees with legal qualifications have served or continue to serve in the military since 24 February 2022. Of these, 76 have lost their lives while performing military service.

The consolidated figures include data from the central office of the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, the State Criminal Enforcement Service, the Ministry’s interregional departments and interregional departments responsible for the enforcement of criminal sentences, penal institutions and pre-trial detention centers, the free legal aid system, the State Institution “Probation Center,” the Penitentiary Academy of Ukraine, state-owned enterprises, and forensic examination institutions. The highest number of fatalities was recorded in the State Criminal Enforcement Service of Ukraine, with 57 deaths.

Overall, according to official information from the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, published on 24 February 2026, more than 1,100 employees of the justice system have joined units of Ukraine’s Security and Defense Forces since the beginning of the full-scale armed aggression.

The Judiciary

The total number of judges and judicial system employees who have served or are currently serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military formations since 24 February 2022 has not been officially disclosed. The most recent publicly available figures previously released by the State Judicial Administration (SJA) of Ukraine date back to December 2023. No updated public statistics are available for 2024–2026.

In its response to an information request submitted by Yurydychna Praktyka, dated 22 July 2026, the SJA explained that information concerning judges, court staff, and SJA personnel liable for military service who had been mobilized into the Armed Forces of Ukraine was classified as official information and designated “For Official Use Only.” Access is also restricted to consolidated information on judges and judicial system employees who have been killed, gone missing, or taken prisoner during martial law and active hostilities.

Consequently, for the purposes of this study, we have relied on the latest available official figures previously published in the media. As for the numbers of judges and judicial system employees killed or missing in action, we compiled these figures based on official responses received directly from courts to information requests submitted as part of this study.

At the same time, several courts provided information directly concerning their judges and staff members who had performed military service. In particular, the High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC) reported that six of its judges had served in Ukraine’s Defense Forces between 24 February 2022 and 1 July 2026: five judges of the court of first instance and one judge of the HACC Appeal Chamber. The Supreme Court, for its part, provided information about judges who had received decorations for their participation in Ukraine’s defense. Deputy President of the Supreme Court Oleksandr Mamalui is a recipient of all three classes of the Order of Courage, while Supreme Court Justice Volodymyr Bevzenko has been awarded the Medal for Military Service to Ukraine. These details contribute to the broader picture but do not allow to establish the total number of Judicial System representatives who have taken up arms to defend Ukraine.

The story of Anatolii Nahornyi, a judge of the Veselivskyi District Court of the Mykolaiv Region, deserves particular attention. In the spring of 2022, he was temporarily assigned to the Sobornyi (Zhovtnevyi) District Court in Dnipro. In February 2023, he volunteered to join the Steel Border unit of the Offensive Guard. He was killed on 16 November 2023 near Serhiivka in the Luhansk Region during direct combat with enemy forces, sustaining fatal blast injuries. He was posthumously awarded the Order for Courage (Third Class) by the President of Ukraine, and members of the Council of Judges of Ukraine unanimously supported a nomination to confer Anatolii Nahornyi the title of Hero of Ukraine (posthumously).

Prosecutor’s Offices

According to the Office of the Prosecutor General, approximately 700 employees of Ukraine’s prosecutor’s offices have joined the country’s defense since 24 February 2022. As of 1 July 2026, nearly 300 prosecution service employees served in Ukraine’s Defense Forces. In addition, more than 360 employees who achieved war veteran status returned to work in the prosecution service after discharge from military service.

During the full-scale war, 26 prosecution service employees lost their lives while performing military service, either in combat missions or due to enemy shelling. These figures cover the period from 24 February 2022 to 1 July 2026.

As of 1 July 2026, 47 prosecution service employees had received Ukrainian state awards, including 12 posthumously. These decorations include the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, Third Class; the Order of Courage, Third Class; the Order of Merit, Third Class; with the Medals for Military Service to Ukraine and Defender of the Fatherland; and the Presidential Decoration “For the Defense of Ukraine.” Prosecution service employees have also received departmental decorations from the Ministry of Defense, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and other branches of Ukraine’s Defense Forces.

State Bureau of Investigation

It was not possible to establish, within the scope of this study, the number of employees of the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) who were mobilized, voluntarily enlisted in the military, or served in the Armed Forces of Ukraine and other military formations after 24 February 2022. In response to our information request, the SBI stated that information concerning personnel lists, positions, personal data, and service records of rank-and-file and commanding personnel at the Bureau’s central office and territorial departments is classified as official information with restricted access. Citing its status as a state law enforcement agency and the specific nature of its functions, the Bureau declined to provide the requested information.

At the same time, since 18 May 2024, SBI employees liable for military service have been exempt from conscription during mobilization and are eligible for exemption from mobilization through the reservation procedure. However, this provision does not allow to determine how many Bureau employees were mobilized or voluntarily enlisted in the military before it came into effect.

Women Legal Professionals in the Military

The full-scale war has transformed Ukrainian legal professionals’ careers. Among them are women who have joined Ukraine’s Defense Forces since 24 February 2022. Their roles in the military extend beyond legal positions: some have voluntarily enlisted for active military service and participated in combat operations.

One such story is that of Anna Prylut­ska (Kudyrko), a patent attorney candidate. In June 2022, she voluntarily joined the 28th Separate Mechanized Brigade, named after the Knights of the First Winter Campaign. She participated in combat operations in the Mykolaiv and Donetsk regions. She was discharged from military service in April 2024. In recognition of her service, Anna Prylutska received the “Honor. Glory. “State” Medal awarded by the city of Kyiv.

Among those who continue to serve is Olha Panchenko, a judge at the Kharkiv District Administrative Court. As of 1 July 2026, she served in Ukraine’s Defense Forces. Anastasiia Turko, a court hearing secretary at the same court, also serves in the military. This is one of the documented cases identified in our study in which a sitting Ukrainian judge joined the armed forces.

Another example is Antonina Ptashnyk, a judge of the Storozhynets District Court of Chernivtsi Region. She was called up for military service on 8 February 2024 and completed her service on 7 April 2025, after which she returned to her judicial duties. As of July 2026, Antonina Ptashnyk served as acting president of the court. In March 2025, she was awarded the Orthodox Church of Ukraine’s Medal “For Sacrifice and Love for Ukraine.”

The story of Nataliia Ivanova, senior secretary of the Ochakiv City-District Court of Mykolaiv Region, is particularly noteworthy. Her military career began long before the full-scale invasion, in July 2015, and continues to this day. Over the years, Nataliia Ivanova has received numerous decorations: the “For Exemplary Military Service” Award, Third Class, in 2018; the Military Honor Cross in 2023; and the “For Conscientious Service” Decoration in 2025. In August 2022, she also received the Presidential Decoration “For the Defense of Ukraine.”

The information obtained during our study does not allow us to establish the total number of women from the legal profession who have joined Ukraine’s Defense Forces. The stories presented here are therefore not an exhaustive account, but rather documented examples of military service by women in the Ukrainian legal community. We uncovered these examples during our research.

State Awards and Military Decorations Received by Ukrainian Legal Professionals

The information on state awards and military decorations presented in this study was compiled from responses to information requests received from government bodies, institutions, and organizations across Ukraine, as well as from publicly available official sources. Where information about award recipients was not provided or subject to access restrictions, we reviewed publicly available official records, including presidential decrees and announcements issued by government authorities, and included only those awards and decorations that could be verified through documentary evidence.

The figures presented are not exhaustive. The actual number of decorated Ukrainian legal professionals may well be higher. This study includes only those awards and decorations for which documentary confirmation was available at the time of its preparation.

Legal Professionals Honored with State and Departmental Awards

Award / Decoration	Total Awarded	Of Which Posthumously
HIGHEST STATE HONOR
Hero of Ukraine (with the Order of the Gold Star)	5	3
STATE AWARDS AND SPECIAL MILITARY DECORATION OF THE PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE
Cross of Military Merit	4	—
Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, Third Class	16	8
Order of Courage, First Class	2	—
Order of Courage, Second Class	2	—
Order of Courage, Third Class	22	17
Order of Danylo Halytsky	1	—
Order of Merit, Third Class	10	—
Medal “For Military Service to Ukraine”	6	—
Medal “Defender of the Fatherland”	2	—
Medal “For Labour and Valour”	6	—
OTHER PRESIDENTIAL DECORATIONS
Presidential Decoration “For the Defense of Ukraine”	23	5
DEPARTMENTAL AWARDS
Ministry of Defense Decorations	35	—
Honorary Badges of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine	40	1
Decorations of Military Commanders, Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (HUR), Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), National Guard of Ukraine (NGU), and State Border Guard Service of Ukraine (SBGS)	21	—
TOTAL	195	34

 

Highest State Honors Awarded to Legal Profession Members

Among the legal profession members who have taken up arms to defend Ukraine are service members. Their courage and contributions to the country’s defense have been recognized with Ukraine’s highest state honors. As part of this study, we have compiled the stories of legal professionals whose awards could be verified through responses from professional associations and government institutions, as well as decrees of the President of Ukraine. They include Heroes of Ukraine, recipients of state orders, and those awarded the Presidential Decoration “Cross of Military Merit.” Some of these honors were awarded posthumously to legal professionals who gave their lives defending Ukraine.

Vasyl Kozak, PhD in Law, Colonel of the Security Service of Ukraine

Vasyl Kozak, a 32-year-old native of the Yavoriv district, entered the Security Service of Ukraine’s (SBU) combat operations not as a civilian lawyer, but as a serving intelligence officer with legal education and operational experience.

He served in the SBU Directorate in Zakarpattia Region, where he combated corruption and organized crime. In 2021, he earned a PhD in Law, defending a dissertation on criminal liability for motor vehicle trafficking.

Following the start of the full-scale invasion, he participated in SBU special operations, including missions in Ukraine’s temporarily occupied territories. Details of most of these operations have not been disclosed publicly. On 24 February 2023, Vasyl Kozak was presented with the Order of the Gold Star as a Hero of Ukraine in recognition of his personal courage, heroism, and successful execution of special operations. In 2025, he was also awarded the Presidential Decoration “Cross of Military Merit.” His other state honors include the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, Third Class.

Yevhenii Lakhnenko, Advocate, Insolvency Practitioner, Major of the National Guard of Ukraine, Head of the Electronic Warfare Service of the Unmanned Systems Unit of the 1st Presidential Operational Brigade “Burevii” of the National Guard of Ukraine

A native of Kyiv, Yevhenii Lakhnenko has been serving on the front lines since 2023. He participated in the defense of the Kyiv Region and fought in the Donetsk and Kharkiv regions. Under constant shelling, he restored communications essential for coordinating military units and adjusting artillery fire, and provided electronic protection for military equipment and wounded personnel evacuation. In February 2024, he was awarded the Order of Courage, Third Class, by presidential decree.

On 9 October 2025, while attempting to restore a damaged electronic warfare system in the Kupiansk sector, he was severely wounded by an enemy FPV drone, losing his right arm and left foot. Following extensive rehabilitation, Yevhenii Lakhnenko continues to serve in the National Guard and has returned to sports. In June 2026, he completed a two-kilometer open-water swim at the international OCEANMAN competition in Italy.

On 30 July 2026, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy personally presented Yevhenii Lakhnenko with one of Ukraine’s highest military decorations, the Cross of Military Merit. He was also awarded the Presidential Decoration “For the Defense of Ukraine.”

Oleksandr Mamalui, Judge, PhD in Law, Deputy President of the Supreme Court, Sniper, Reserve Major of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Honorary Citizen of Kharkiv

Oleksandr Mamalui, a native of Kharkiv, began his military service in 2014 during the first mobilization wave. Having served as a judge of the Commercial Court of Kharkiv Region for 13 years, he became a sniper and later deputy platoon commander of a sniper company in the 93rd Separate Mechanized Brigade. He participated in combat operations in the Donetsk Region, including the battles for Pisky and Avdiivka. While defending Donetsk Airport, Oleksandr Mamalui kept a handwritten War Diary, which he later published as a book in 2018.

Following his discharge from military service in March 2015, Oleksandr Mamalui spent just a month and a half in civilian life. By late April, he had been mobilized for a second time, this time to the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, where he served as a sniper in a counter-sniper unit and carried out combat missions in the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) zone. His second period of military service lasted until July 2016.

When Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, Oleksandr Mamalui was in Kyiv, serving as a Supreme Court Justice. Within the first days of the invasion, he joined the defense of the capital and took part in combat operations near Hostomel on the night of 25 February. On 7 April 2022, he was mobilized into the Ukrainian Ground Forces. As part of a combined sniper unit of the Ground Forces, he fought in some of the most intense sectors of the front.

Oleksandr Mamalui received all three classes of the Order of Courage. He received the Third Class for his participation in the battle for Donetsk Airport in 2015, the Second Class for combat operations in Kharkiv Region in 2022, and the First Class for his involvement in the battles near Lysychansk, the Balakliia offensive operation, and the fighting for Bakhmut. According to estimates based on publicly available sources, no more than 80 people in Ukraine have received all three classes of this order. He has also been awarded the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine’s honorary badges, the Silver Cross and the Steel Cross.

On 8 January 2024, he was discharged from active military service and transferred to the reserve, retaining the right to wear a military uniform. He was subsequently elected Deputy President of the Supreme Court and serves as a judge of the Commercial Cassation Court within the Supreme Court.

Yurii Trachuk, Advocate, Ukrainian Patent Attorney, Founder of the Rivnepatent Patent Bureau, Service Member of the Omega Special Forces Centre of the National Guard of Ukraine (2022-2025), Senior Staff Officer at the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

On 25 February 2022, Yurii Trachuk, a native of Rivne, volunteered to join the Ukrainian military. During the full-scale war, he progressed from squad commander through various non-commissioned officer positions to service in the Omega Special Forces Centre of the National Guard of Ukraine, where he served as the Centre’s senior enlisted leader and later as a CIMIC (Civil-Military Cooperation) officer. He carried out missions directly on the front line and participated in operations conducted by Ukraine’s Defense Forces, including in Russia’s Kursk Region.

After three years of service with the Omega Special Forces Centre, Yurii Trachuk has continued his military career at the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. His responsibilities include organizing training abroad for personnel of Ukraine’s Defense Forces.

In 2025, Yurii Trachuk received the state award Medal for Military Service to Ukraine. His other decorations include the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (HUR) award “Firearm,” the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine’s Badge of Honour, the National Guard Commander’s Decoration “For Valiant Service,” and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine’s Honorary Badge “Best Sergeant (Senior NCO) of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.”

In Remembrance

Taras Chaika, Lawyer, Insolvency Practitioner and Mediator, Lieutenant of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Commander of a Separate Reconnaissance Platoon of the 125th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (Call Sign: Khimik)

In the first days of the full-scale invasion, Taras Chaika, a 29-year-old native of Lviv, volunteered for military service. Having completed reserve officer training, he joined the 125th Separate Brigade of the Territorial Defense Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. On 16 April 2022, he was commissioned as a lieutenant and commanded a reconnaissance platoon.

On 2 November 2022, while carrying out a combat mission, Taras Chaika and his crew traveled to an observation post near the village of Torske in Kramatorsk District, Donetsk Region. Their vehicle came under intense enemy fire. Taras sustained a severe shrapnel wound that proved fatal. Despite his injury, he continued to drive and got the vehicle and its wounded occupants out of the line of fire. Taras died of his injuries, but the crew survived.

Taras Chaika is buried at Lychakiv Military Cemetery in Lviv. On 29 September 2023, the President of Ukraine posthumously conferred upon him the country’s highest state honor, the title of Hero of Ukraine, with the Order of the Gold Star.

Yurii Sikyrynskyi, Advocate (Lviv), Senior Sergeant of the 125th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Communications Squad Commander (Call Sign: Advokat)

When Russia launched its full-scale invasion, Yurii Sikyrynskyi lived and worked abroad. He returned to Ukraine and volunteered to join the 125th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade. He served as a communications squad commander and carried out combat missions in the Kharkiv, Sumy, and Donetsk regions.

During his second deployment to the Bakhmut sector, he volunteered to assume command of a reconnaissance platoon. On 14 June 2023, during an assault near Rozdolivka in Donetsk Region, his group captured enemy positions, after which Yurii Sikyrynskyi ordered his soldiers to consolidate their gains. Rather than remain at the newly captured position, he and a guide from another unit headed back under enemy fire to bring reinforcements to the group holding the forward position. Hearing enemy self-propelled artillery gun fire, he shielded the other service member with his own body. Both men were killed in the explosion.

Yurii Sikyrynskyi was 52 years old and a father of five.

On 24 February 2024, by Presidential Decree No. 116/2024, Yurii Sikyrynskyi was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine, with the Order of the Gold Star. He is buried at the Lychakiv Military Cemetery in Lviv.

Vladyslav Kozachyshyn, Lawyer, Assistant to the President of the Orativ District Court of Vinnytsia Region, Lieutenant of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Service Member of the 46th Separate Airmobile Brigade of the Air Assault Forces of Ukraine (Call Sign: Kozak)

Vladyslav Kozachyshyn, a 24-year-old native of the Vinnytsia Region, was called up for military service in September 2022 as a reserve officer. He served in the 46th Separate Airmobile Brigade of the Air Assault Forces of Ukraine, held the rank of lieutenant, and fought in the Donetsk Region.

In early January 2023, his brigade was among the units defending Soledar. At that time, Russian forces and units of the Wagner Private Military Company intensified their offensive against the city, seeking to break through Ukrainian defenses, with fighting taking place directly in the city’s built-up areas.

During this period, Vladyslav Kozachyshyn was stationed in defensive positions in Soledar. Contact with him was lost on 4 January 2023, and it later emerged that the lieutenant had been killed in action on 5 January 2023 while carrying out a combat mission. On 11 May 2023, the President of Ukraine posthumously awarded Vladyslav Kozachyshyn the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, Third Class.

Oleh Babichev, Lawyer, Investigator and Senior Inquiry Officer of the National Police of Ukraine, Police Captain, Member of the Special-Purpose Police (Rifle) Battalion of the Main Directorate of the National Police in Donetsk Region, UAV Operator (Call Sign: Lego)

A native of Kostiantynivka, Oleh Babichev has served in law enforcement since 2013, working as an investigator and later as a senior inquiry officer. He had prior military experience and participated in combat operations in the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) zone.

In June 2024, he voluntarily transferred from his position as an inquiry officer to a combat unit of the Donetsk Region police. He served as a platoon inspector in the Special-Purpose Police (Rifle) Battalion and as an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) operator. On the front line, he carried out aerial reconnaissance missions, adjusted artillery fire, and provided support to neighbouring units.

On 11 August 2025, Oleh Babichev and his fellow service members were killed in an enemy airstrike while carrying out a combat mission in the Donetsk Region. He was 35 years old. He was posthumously awarded the Order of Courage, Third Class.

Vitalii Stadnyk, Prosecutor, Senior Counsellor of Justice, Head of a Department at the Ternopil Regional Prosecutor’s Office, Sailor in the Ukrainian Navy, Service Member of the 88th Battalion of the 35th Separate Marine Brigade named after Rear Admiral Mykhailo Ostrohradskyi (Call Sign: Prokuror)

Vitalii Stadnyk worked in the prosecutor’s offices for more than 17 years, spending his final years as head of a department at the Ternopil Regional Prosecutor’s Office. Following the start of the full-scale invasion, he voluntarily enlisted in the Armed Forces of Ukraine and served with the Marine Corps in the Kherson sector.

He was killed on 1 October 2022 during the Ukrainian counteroffensive in Kherson Region, near the village of Davydiv Brid. When his unit was withdrawn from its position, Vitalii stayed behind to evacuate the wounded. He made six evacuation trips, bringing approximately 200 service members off the battlefield.

Despite intensified shelling, he responded to another request for help over the radio and set out once more to rescue wounded personnel. He was killed during that evacuation. He was 39 years old.

He was posthumously awarded the Order of Courage, Third Class, and named Honorary Citizen of Ternopil.

Kostiantyn Shestopalov, Lawyer, Journalist, Entrepreneur, Soldier of the Separate Presidential Brigade named after Hetman Bohdan Khmelnytsky (Call Sign: Kotiara)

Kostiantyn Shestopalov graduated from the National Academy of Internal Affairs of Ukraine and worked as a criminal investigation officer at the Darnytsia District Directorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Kyiv, attaining the rank of lieutenant. He subsequently spent more than 16 years working at Yurydychna Praсtyka, holding various positions, including editor-in-chief. In his later years, he worked as a freelancer and was engaged in entrepreneurial and information analysis activities.

Following the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, he evacuated his family to the Poltava Region and immediately went to a Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Centre to volunteer for military service. He fought with the 23rd Separate Special-Purpose Battalion, serving as deputy commander of a combat vehicle and as a gunner-operator.

On 7 December 2022, Kostiantyn Shestopalov was killed near Bakhmut after sustaining fatal blast injuries while carrying out a combat mission. He was posthumously awarded the Order of Courage, Third Class.

Dmytro Antonenko, Insolvency Practitioner, Advocate (Kharkiv), Managing Partner of ACF Partners Law Firm. Soldier of the National Guard of Ukraine, 2nd Separate Special-Purpose Detachment of the Omega Special Forces Centre (Call Sign: Advokat). He was killed on 27 June 2022 during fighting near Dementiivka in the Kharkiv Region. Dmytro was 42 years old. He was posthumously awarded the Order of Courage, Third Class.

Volodymyr Berezovskyi, Lawyer, Junior Inspector, Second Category, of the Security and Custody Department at the State Institution “Vinnytsia Penitentiary Institution No. 1”. He was killed while carrying out a combat mission on 27 July 2023. Volodymyr was 34 years old.

Vitalii Biliavskyi, Insolvency Practitioner, Advocate (Irpin, Kyiv Region). Following the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, he took up arms to defend Irpin. Vitalii was killed in action on 3 April 2022 while defending the city.

Oleksandr Boiko, Advocate at DixiLex Law Firm (Kyiv), Lieutenant Colonel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Service Member of the Central Directorate of the Military Law Enforcement Service. He had been involved in defending Ukraine since the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO), for which he received the badge “For Ukraine. For Its Freedom,” the Presidential Decoration “For Participation in the Anti-Terrorist Operation,” and the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine’s Decoration “For Exemplary Service.” In 2023, he joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine. On 20 September 2024, he was killed alongside two fellow service members in a Russian missile strike while carrying out a combat mission near the city of Dobropillia in the Donetsk Region. Oleksandr was 40 years old. He was posthumously awarded the Order of Courage, Third Class.

Oleksii Borys, Journalist at Yurydychna Gazeta, Former Employee of the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine (AMCU) and the State Property Fund of Ukraine (SPFU), and Former Member of Arzinger Law Firm. A lieutenant in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, he volunteered for mobilization on 25 February 2022. Oleksii served in Chernihiv Region and participated in the defense of the Lysychansk Oil Refinery, Soledar, and Bakhmut. He commanded a platoon in an anti-tank artillery battery of the 58th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade and was preparing to take up the position of deputy commander of a rocket artillery battery. On 9 February 2023, he died in a road traffic accident while serving in the military. Oleksii was 27 years old.

Mykola Veremchuk, Advocate (Lutsk), who practised law for more than 20 years, Member of the Qualification and Disciplinary Commission of the Bar of Volyn Region, Battalion Senior Sergeant of an Unmanned Systems Battalion. He was killed while carrying out a combat mission near Ivanopillia in the Donetsk Region on 23 May 2025. Mykola was 47 years old.

Oleh Hubal, Chief State Enforcement Officer of the State Enforcement Service Department in Uzhhorod, South-Western Interregional Directorate of the Ministry of Justice, Soldier of the 68th Separate Territorial Defense Battalion of the 101st Separate Territorial Defense Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (Call Sign: Clerk). He volunteered to defend Ukraine on the very first day of the full-scale invasion. In 2022, his battalion participated in Izium’s liberation. On 10 November 2022, Oleh Hubal was killed while carrying out a combat mission in the Kharkiv Region. He was 43 years old.

Vitalii Dudarchuk, Advocate, Co-founder of the Kyiv-based Volkova & Partners Law Firm, Lieutenant of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Commander of the 2nd Mountain Assault Platoon of the 3rd Mountain Assault Company, 108th Separate Mountain Assault Battalion, 10th Separate Mountain Assault Brigade (Call Sign: Kalyna). A reserve officer, he was mobilized into the Armed Forces of Ukraine in June 2022. Vitalii was killed on 4 November 2022 while carrying out a combat mission near the settlement of Spirne in Bakhmut District, Donetsk Region. He was 32 years old. Vitalii Dudarchuk was posthumously awarded the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, Third Class.

Ihor Kovalenko, Insolvency Practitioner since 2010. He was killed on 26 March 2025.

Oleksandr Kovalenko, Lawyer, Investigator, Police Captain, Member of the Combat Units of the National Police of Ukraine (Call Sign: Yuryst). Oleksandr Kovalenko has been defending Ukraine since 2017 as a member of the Myrotvorets Special Police Unit. In 2024, he served as a platoon commander in the Special Actions Police Regiment, later transferred to a rifle unit of the KORD Special Police Force in Kyiv Region. On 23 December 2024, Oleksandr Kovalenko sustained fatal wounds while carrying out a combat mission in Toretsk, Donetsk Region. He was 34 years old. He was posthumously awarded the Order of Courage, Third Class, the Presidential Decoration “For the Defense of Ukraine,” and the Combatant’s Cross.

Ihor Kolisnichenko, Chief Legal Officer of the Tomashpil Legal Aid Bureau, Tulchyn Free Legal Aid Department, Central-Western Free Legal Aid Directorate of the Northern Interregional Centre for Free Legal Aid. Ihor was killed on 8 August 2024. He was 50 years old.

Mykola Lazarchuk, Advocate (Rivne), Founder of the Lazarchuk Law Office, Soldier of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Mykola had 17 years’ experience as an advocate, having practised law since 2006. He was killed in action near Bakhmut in the Donetsk Region on 11 May 2023, at the age of 42.

Yaroslav Lavruk, Insolvency Practitioner, Captain of Justice. He served as Assistant Commander for Legal Affairs and Head of the Legal Service of the 5th Separate Heavy Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Yaroslav was killed on 13 March 2025 near Pokrovsk in Donetsk Region. He was 38 years old.

Oleh Lebiediev, Advocate (Kyiv), Junior Sergeant, Company Senior Sergeant of the 1st Company, 204th Separate Territorial Defense Battalion, 241st Separate Territorial Defense Brigade of Kyiv (Call Sign: Lebid). Oleh Lebiediev volunteered for military service in early March 2022. He participated in the defense of Kyiv in the Hostomel and Moshchun areas and later carried out combat missions in Donbas. Oleh was killed in action near Bakhmut on 23 December 2022 while repelling an assault on Ukrainian positions. He was 52 years old. Oleh Lebiediev was posthumously awarded the Order of Courage, Third Class.

Serhii Mishchenko, Lawyer, Former Police Officer, Junior Sergeant of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Squad Commander in the Anti-Tank Guided Missile Platoon of the 87th Anti-Tank Battalion, 45th Separate Artillery Brigade (Call Sign: Buhor). Following the start of the full-scale invasion, Serhii voluntarily enlisted in the Armed Forces of Ukraine and participated in the defense of the Kyiv Region and fighting in the Kharkiv Region and eastern Ukraine. As an anti-tank missile operator, he destroyed 35 pieces of Russian military equipment, earning him the nickname “tank destroyer” among his fellow service members. He also set a record for a successful Javelin missile strike at a range of 5.5 kilometres. Serhii Mishchenko was a recipient of all three classes of the Order of Courage and had also been awarded the Cross of Military Merit. On 1 December 2022, he was killed while carrying out a combat mission near Kovalivka in the Luhansk Region, at the age of 48. On 23 February 2023, Serhii Mishchenko was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine, with the Order of the Gold Star.

Mykola Moha, Advocate, Founder and Head of Konstanta Law Firm (Kyiv), Captain of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Rifle Platoon Commander of the 30th Separate Mechanized Brigade (Call Sign: Advokat). From February 2022, Mykola Moha participated in combat operations in the Kyiv, Donetsk, and Kharkiv regions. He was killed on 16 August 2022 in an artillery attack near Oleksandrivka, Izium District, Kharkiv Region, at the age of 39. Mykola Moha was posthumously awarded the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, Third Class.

Viktor Nasikovskyi, Former Prosecutor, Veteran of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO), Lieutenant Colonel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Head of the Communications Group at the Headquarters of the 127th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Viktor Nasikovskyi participated in the ATO in eastern Ukraine, where he sustained a severe injury that left him disabled. On 28 March 2022, he returned to military service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. As a member of the 127th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade, he carried out combat missions in Kharkiv Region and participated in the defense of Bakhmut in spring 2023. On 22 May 2022, he was awarded the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, Third Class, by Presidential Decree No. 358/2022. On 18 April 2023, Viktor Nasikovskyi died while carrying out a combat mission in Bakhmut. He was 36 years old.

Anton Nezola, Prosecutor at the Prosecutor’s Office of the Khortytsia District of Zaporizhzhia, First-Class Jurist, Senior Soldier of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Machine Gunner in the Territorial Defense Forces. In the first days of the full-scale invasion, despite no previous military experience, Anton Nezola volunteered to join the Territorial Defense Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He initially served as a rifleman before becoming a machine gunner. Anton participated in the battles for Bucha and Irpin and later defended the Luhansk Region. On 6 December 2022, he was killed in combat with an enemy sabotage group near Dibrova, in the Kreminna area. Anton Nezola was 40 years old. He was posthumously awarded the Order of Courage, Third Class.

Vasyl Palamarchuk, Lawyer, Writer, Service Member (Call Sign: Advokat). He had combat experience dating back to the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) of 2014-2015, which he recounted in his book Viiskovyi Nepotrib (Military Junk). Following the start of the full-scale invasion, Vasyl participated in the liberation of the Kyiv Region as a member of the Territorial Defense Forces. He later fought on the eastern front, serving as a lieutenant and commander of the Fire Support Company of the 206th Separate Territorial Defense Battalion, 241st Territorial Defense Brigade. In November 2023, Vasyl Palamarchuk received the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine’s Honorary Badge “Gold Cross.” On 3 July 2024, he led a group attempting to reach a position near the town of New York in the Donetsk Region to recover the bodies of fallen fellow service members. Vasyl Palamarchuk was killed in the ensuing battle. Vasyl was 43 years old. He was posthumously awarded the Order of Courage, Third Class.

Serhii Panchenko, Advocate (Zaporizhzhia), who practised law for more than 20 years and served as a member of the Audit Commission of the Bar of Zaporizhzhia Region. Following the start of the full-scale invasion, he initially joined the Territorial Defense Forces before becoming an assault soldier in one of the elite units of the Air Assault Forces of Ukraine. Serhii Panchenko was killed on 6 September 2023 while carrying out a combat mission in Polohy District, Zaporizhzhia Region. He was 48 years old.

Oleksandr Polivodskyi, Advocate (Kyiv), Founder and Partner of Sofia Law Firm, PhD in Law, Research Fellow at the V. M. Koretsky Institute of State and Law of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Lecturer at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, Junior Sergeant of the 244th Separate Territorial Defense Battalion, 112th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (Military Unit A4347; Call Sign: Dotsent). Oleksandr Polivodskyi practised law for more than 20 years and, until February 2023, chaired the Committee on Agricultural, Land and Environmental Law of the Ukrainian National Bar Association. He was killed on 19 April 2023 while carrying out a combat mission on the outskirts of the village of Dibrova in Luhansk Region. Oleksandr was 49 years old. He was posthumously awarded the Order of Courage, Third Class.

Volodymyr Polyvoda, Advocate (Kyiv), Soldier of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Driver in the 2nd Platoon, 2nd Company, 13th Battalion of the 95th Separate Air Assault Brigade (Call Sign: Advokat). On the first day of the full-scale invasion, Volodymyr voluntarily reported to a military enlistment office and subsequently joined the 95th Brigade. He was killed in action on 25 March 2022 during fighting near Kamianka in the Izium area. Volodymyr Polyvoda was 51 years old. He was posthumously awarded the Order of Courage, Third Class.

Volodymyr Raievskyi, Advocate (Dnipro), who has been in independent legal practice since 2016, representing and defending clients in the courts of Dnipro and the Dnipropetrovsk Region. Sergeant of the 129th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. On 13 July 2023, Volodymyr Raievskyi was wounded near the village of Torske in Donetsk Region and died of his injuries on 17 July 2023. He was 43 years old.

Dmytro Rozenko, Prosecutor at the Chernihiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office, Junior Sergeant, Service Member of the 162nd Separate Battalion, 119th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Dmytro Rozenko has worked in the Prosecutor’s Offices since 2008. In 2015-2016, he performed military service following mobilization. On 24 February 2022, Dmytro voluntarily rejoined the Armed Forces of Ukraine and took part in the defense of Chernihiv. The very next day, on 25 February, his unit engaged Russian forces in battle near the regional capital. Dmytro was killed alongside five fellow service members. He was 35 years old. Dmytro Rozenko was posthumously awarded the Order of Courage, Third Class, and the Medal “For the Defense of Chernihiv.”

Liubomyr Savchuk, Legal Professional, Investigator at the Territorial Office of the State Bureau of Investigation in Lviv Region, Lieutenant of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Platoon Commander in the 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade named after King Danylo. He had combat experience dating back to Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO). Following the full-scale invasion, Liubomyr rejoined the Armed Forces of Ukraine and carried out combat missions in the Luhansk Region. On 9 May 2022, Liubomyr Savchuk was killed by enemy artillery fire while carrying out a combat mission near Popasna. He was 32 years old. Liubomyr Savchuk was posthumously awarded the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, Third Class.

Mykhailo Slyshyk, Advocate (Kyiv), Service Member of the 77th Separate Airmobile Brigade of the Air Assault Forces of Ukraine (Call Sign: 101). Mykhailo was killed on 11 January 2023 in Soledar while carrying out a mission to lay anti-personnel mines. He was 40 years old. Mykhailo Slyshyk was posthumously awarded the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, Third Class.

Denys Tarasov, Advocate and Human Rights Defender (Zaporizhzhia), Junior Sergeant of the 110th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Denys Tarasov volunteered to defend Ukraine on 25 February 2022. He was killed on 8 January 2023 in an enemy drone attack near Novopil in the Donetsk Region. Denys was 43 years old. He was posthumously awarded the Order of Courage, Third Class.

Vseslav Frolov, Advocate (Kryvyi Rih), Managing Partner of Frolov & Partners Law Firm, Infantryman of the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade (Call Sign: Advokat). Vseslav Frolov joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the first days of the full-scale invasion and participated in the battles for Bakhmut and Avdiivka. For courage and heroism demonstrated during combat operations, he received the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine’s Honorary Badges “Gold Cross” and “Cross of the Brave.” On 9 February 2024, Vseslav Frolov was killed in action during the battles for Avdiivka in Donetsk Region. He was 34 years old.

Liubomyr Khamets, Prosecutor, Deputy Head of a Department at the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Prosecutor’s Office, Soldier of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Service Member of the 110th Separate Mechanized Brigade named after Brigadier General Marko Bezruchko. He worked in the Prosecutor’s Offices for more than 20 years, rising from assistant district prosecutor to senior management positions. Following the start of the full-scale invasion, Liubomyr Khamets voluntarily joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine and carried out combat missions directly on the front line in the Donetsk Region. He was wounded several times during his service but repeatedly returned to the front. On 8 December 2022, while carrying out a combat mission near Avdiivka, Liubomyr sustained severe multiple shrapnel wounds. He was evacuated to a hospital in Dnipro, where he died on 15 December. Liubomyr Khamets was awarded the Medal “For Labour and Valour” and, posthumously, the Order of Courage, Third Class.

Oleksandr Shpak, Chief State Enforcement Officer of the Darnytskyi Department of the State Enforcement Service in Kyiv, Central Interregional Directorate of the Ministry of Justice, Senior Sergeant of the National Guard of Ukraine, Service Member of the Separate Special Forces Detachment of the 27th Pechersk Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine (Military Unit 3066), Driver of an Unmanned Aerial Systems Crew. Oleksandr joined the Ukrainian Armed Forces in 2024. On 16 April 2025, he was killed while carrying out a combat mission to destroy enemy armored vehicles near the village of Pavlivka in Polohy District, Zaporizhzhia Region. Oleksandr Shpak was 45 years old.

Maksym Yurchenko, Lawyer, Investigator in the Internal Affairs Bodies, Service Member of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Following the start of the full-scale invasion in 2022, Maksym voluntarily joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine and underwent military training in the United Kingdom. On 22 July 2023, he was killed while carrying out a combat mission near Zaporizhzhia. Maksym Yurchenko was posthumously awarded the Order of Courage, Third Class.