Oleksiy Valchuk was born on May 19, 1985, and was a man of great diligence and an even greater heart. A native of Khmelnytskyi, he always cultivated a strong sense of responsibility, which later manifested in all areas of his life: from his military service to raising his children and defending his homeland.

Oleksiy gained his military experience during his conscript service in Sevastopol, where he had the honor of serving in the honor guard company and earned the rank of Senior Seaman. Returning to civilian life, he dedicated himself to construction and worked at an innovative "Nova Poshta" terminal. However, Oleksiy's greatest achievement was his family—he was a beloved husband and a loving father to four children: three daughters and a son.

Serving his neighbor became a spiritual compass for Oleksiy: on June 3, 2016, he joined the Knights of Columbus, fully embracing the order's values.

In January 2024, feeling a profound duty to his country, Oleksiy volunteered to mobilize into the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. As part of the 151st Separate Mechanized Brigade, Senior Soldier Valchuk became a squad master for strike unmanned aerial systems. He mastered one of the most complex modern military professions, protecting his brothers-in-arms from the sky. Oleksiy's life was cut short on December 6, 2024, near the settlement of Ulakly in the Donetsk region. The warrior was killed during a combat mission as a result of an enemy drone attack. He will forever be 39 years old.

For his outstanding service to the Ukrainian people and his hometown, Oleksiy Valchuk was posthumously awarded the title of "Honorary Citizen of the Khmelnytskyi City Territorial Community." The Hero was laid to rest at the Alley of Glory in the Rakove neighborhood.

He is remembered as a man who, above all else, loved life, his large family, and Ukraine. His sacrifice stands as a profound example of true paternal and civic heroism.

Oleh Vorobyov was born on May 11, 1977, in Lviv, where he lived his entire life. He studied at the Lviv Physics and Mathematics Lyceum and graduated from the Faculty of Physics at the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv. He worked at the Institute for Condensed Matter Physics, and held a Ph.D. in Physics and Mathematics. He was a scientist, a man of deep thought, and possessed great inner discipline. Oleh also studied in the MSc in Technology Management program at the UCU Business School.

Together with his wife Olha, they created an online store for Chinese tea and teaware. He was one of the first in Ukraine to speak about tea the way one speaks about wine, paying attention to the region, variety, plantation altitude, harvest year, and subtle flavor notes. In this endeavor, as in all others, his depth and attention to detail shone through; he never did anything superficially.

He participated in the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) during the first waves of mobilization. When he returned from the war, he and his wife founded the psychological support project for families of ATO veterans called "Happy Together"—an initiative focused on supporting couples and intimacy during times of hardship. While on the front lines, Oleh clearly saw how vital it was for defenders to maintain a connection with their loved ones, and how difficult it is to do so during wartime. The project became a response to this need—a space for conversation, learning, and rebuilding relationships.

Oleh was also a talented musician: he played guitar, sang, and engaged in improvisational music with his band, "Riasni Drova Consort." Oleh was an active participant in the Knights of Columbus community and the Christian Family Movement.

With the onset of the full-scale invasion, Senior Lieutenant Vorobyov, as part of the 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade named after King Danylo, once again set out to defend Ukraine.

"Most of you know I am currently in the East, and it is very difficult here. While here, I have had to live through three shellings, which, of course, is not much at all. For many defenders, this is a daily statistic. The main thing I want to share is that it is truly hard here. And by 'hard,' I don't just mean the events, but the spectrum of extreme negative emotions—fear, pain, sorrow, despair, hopelessness, etc. These are the emotions you have to live in. That is why when I read 'you are our hero' in your greetings, I feel a strong sense of denial. I don't feel like a hero; I feel like a weak human being... I think we are living through all this suffering and pain to learn greater empathy, compassion, and love for our neighbors, and to become closer to God," Oleh wrote on his page on May 12.

He was killed on May 30, 2022, while performing a combat mission in the Donbas. In honor of Oleh Vorobyov, a scholarship fund was established at the Ukrainian Catholic University. The defender was laid to rest at the Lychakiv Cemetery in Lviv. Oleh is survived by his wife, son, and daughter.

Petro Popovych was born on June 9, 1966, in the village of Torhovytsia, Ivano-Frankivsk region. After high school, he pursued vocational education, studying at Kolomyia Vocational School No. 14. His professional career was defined by his many years of dedicated work at the "Kolomyiasilmash" plant.

Faith held a central place in Petro’s life. As a practicing Christian, he lived by principles he considered fundamental: honesty, brotherhood, unity, and a deep sense of responsibility for his country.On February 2, 2022, Petro Popovych joined the "Knights of Columbus," a Catholic fraternal order. His membership was a natural extension of his lifelong commitment to serving God and his neighbor.

When the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine began, Petro chose the path of a protector. He enlisted as a volunteer in the Kolomyia Territorial Defense and later defended the nation as part of the 102nd Separate Territorial Defense Brigade, named after Colonel Dmytro Vitovskyi.

On April 24, 2022, while performing a combat mission in the settlement of Cherkaske, Slovyansk district, Donetsk region, Petro sustained severe injuries. On May 4, his life tragically came to an end at a military hospital in Dnipro. The Hero was laid to rest at the Alley of Glory in Kolomyia. For his unwavering courage and selfless service to the community, Petro Popovych was posthumously awarded the title of "Honorary Citizen of the City of Kolomyia."

Oleksandr was born on April 13, 1973, and was a man of exceptional honesty and kindness. A native of Hnivan in the Vinnytsia region, he dedicated his life to hard work and caring for his loved ones. A maintenance mechanic by trade, Oleksandr had a talent for repairing equipment, but what he loved most was helping people.

For Oleksandr, his faith in God was an active one. In his parish community, alongside the Knights of Columbus, he was always ready to respond to any need. From the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Oleksandr was constantly troubled by the need to protect the country, worrying about those risking their lives, and wondering:

"Maybe I could be useful there, maybe I could help somehow?"

In November 2023, he stepped up to defend his country in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, demonstrating his deep sense of responsibility for the fate of his homeland.

On March 19, 2025, Oleksandr was killed during a combat mission near the village of Mala Tokmachka in the Zaporizhzhia region. For his remarkable bravery, he was posthumously awarded the Order "For Courage," 3rd Class.

He is survived by his loving family—his wife, son, daughter, and grandson. He leaves behind the memory of a true patriot whose sincerity and readiness to help knew no bounds. He was and remains a true model of the chivalric spirit—in faith, in work, and in the defense of his homeland.

Denys Tarasov was born on October 31, 1979, and was a man whose name became well-known in his native Zaporizhzhia thanks to his numerous educational initiatives and his fight for justice. He earned a degree in law from the Zaporizhzhia Institute of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine. A brilliant lawyer, attorney, and active community leader, he dedicated his life to protecting human rights, the environment, the development of his hometown, and the fight against corruption. He was the founder of the "Oberih" and "Pope for Ukraine Initiative" charitable foundations, the director of a business center, and a member and coordinator of numerous civic initiatives and projects. He implemented projects in the Zaporizhzhia region such as "Access to Justice," "Public Awareness of the Judicial System," "Every Vote Matters," and "Legal Education and Protection for Internally Displaced Persons," among others.

He was the visionary and co-author of a draft law (No. 8009) that grants the right to discharge from military service if close relatives have died or gone missing in action during the war.

As an active parishioner of the Sanctuary of God the Merciful Father in Zaporizhzhia and a member of the Knights of Columbus, he embodied Christian values (particularly through the "Pope for Ukraine" foundation), defended the rights of vulnerable groups, and fought against corruption. He was known as someone who would always come to the rescue in any situation.

From the very first days of the full-scale invasion, specifically on February 25, 2022, Denys Tarasov volunteered to defend his homeland.

Denys put God first and deeply loved his family—his wife Kateryna, daughter Varvara, and son Klymentii. During his last leave in December 2022, he visited the church every day, receiving Holy Communion and strengthening his faith before returning to the front lines.

Junior Sergeant of the 110th Territorial Defense Brigade Denys Tarasov was killed on January 8, 2023, during an enemy drone attack near the settlement of Novopil in the Donetsk region. He gave his life defending his native land, which he had fought for his entire life—first in the courts and through civic engagement, and later with weapons in hand.

Denys Tarasov is remembered as a kind, honest, and loving father and husband, a model of active citizenship, and a true Knight who believed in justice until the very end and fought for it for all of us.

Mykhailo Shpikula was born on August 30, 1984, in the village of Pokropyvna in the Ternopil region. He was a man whose life rested on two pillars: tireless work and deep prayer. A professional excavator operator whose clients would wait weeks just for his expertise, he had "golden hands"—crafting everything from wooden swords in his childhood to exquisite furniture as an adult.

His spiritual journey was inseparable from his daily life. His mornings began at 5:00 AM with reflection on the Word of God and praying the Rosary.

In September 2020, Mykhailo dedicated a mission year to Melitopol, where he cared for the homeless and helped build a retreat house; that same year, he joined the Knights of Columbus. Mykhailo was the heart and soul of his large family. He established a tradition of shared dinners and daily hugs, which he considered a priceless gift. During the first year of the full-scale war, he told his mother:

"I am going because I feel in my heart that God is calling me."

Serving in the 81st Airmobile Brigade, Mykhailo remained a warrior of light until the very end, witnessing various miracles during his service and placing his complete trust in God. One morning, during a phone call where his mother expressed having a bad premonition, he replied, "If the Heavenly Father wants to take me, I am ready." That same day, March 18, 2023, he was killed during a tank bombardment in the Donetsk region. He remains in our memory as a courageous defender, an exceptionally kind brother, and a faithful son of God who demonstrated true love for his neighbor through his life.Posthumously awarded the Order for Courage, 3rd Class