A memorial service for seven fallen soldiers who defended Avdiyivka held in Maidan
On February 1, 2016 at the capital's Independence Square (Maidan) Ukraine said goodbye to seven soldiers of the 72nd separate mechanized brigade who died in Avdiyivka heroically defending Ukraine from attacks of Russian occupation forces.
Seven fighters who gave away their lives in a fierce fighting January 29 and 30: Captain Andriy Kyzylo, he was only 23, a native of Cherkasy region from the family of military servicemen; soldier Dmytro Overchenko, born in Cherkasy region, had his last fight at the age of 28; Junior Sergeant Volodymyr Balchenko from Chernihiv region, who died at the age of 25; 34-year-old sergeant from Chernihiv Volodymyr Kryzhanskyy; Oleg Borets; Vitaly Shamrai and Yaroslav Pavlyuk, who were killed died during the second assault of the enemy on January 30.
Relatives and friends, ATO soldiers, volunteers, and activists came to pay final respects to the military servicemen.
Metropolitan Ioan of Cherkasy and Chyhyryn, the Chairman of the Synodal Departmnent for military clergymen of the UOC KP, performed a memorial service for the fallen heroes. Concelebrating to the Archbishop were the military priests First Deputy Chairman Fr. Taras Melnyk, Fr.Alexander Buynytskyy and chaplains who performed the pastoral service directly in the 72 Brigade – a clergyman of Sumy Diocese, Fr. Ihor Muriy and a clergyman of Kyiv Diocese, Fr Oleksander Shmuryhin.
Metropolitan Ioan first said words of sympathy to the relatives, sympathizing with their loss: “Dear relatives and friends. We share this pain together with you ... I wish to God this pain calmed down, and your hearts calmed as well. Be proud about your kids, because they made a feat that awaits our country and the whole nation. We are all grateful for your children and the next generation of Ukrainians will be grateful for what they have done for our country in these terrible horrible days. We pray that the Lord would help complete the most trouble this business in Ukraine,” the hierarch notes.
“These tragic events are taking place because the enemy has come to us from the forceful inoculation of the “Russian peace”. Bullets and fragments of the "Russian world" killed our brothers,” the Department chairman said. The hierarch urged to pray for the repose of the souls of heroes and do everything possible to free their homeland from invasion of Russian aggressors and win peace for Ukraine.
The sworn brothers of the deceased talked about bravery and courage of soldiers who gave their lives for Ukraine.
In particular, the press officer of the 72nd Brigade Olena Mokrenchuk said in her speech that the deceased soldiers closed with their backs entire Ukraine. “When the guys came in Avdiyivka, it was very symbolic that they then were in a position called Maidan, and then they received the news about the enemy’s assault. They went and repelled that attack, they jumped into the trenches of the enemy and took three prisoners. they did everything they could. During the second attack of the enemy came the mine that took the lives of him (Andriy Kyzyl - auth.) and the two soldiers. During the subsequent shelling the other guys were killed who also are heroes because they closed us all their backs. They had defended a peaceful town. They had given the most precious thing had - their lives,” said Olena Mokrenchuk.
Many people who came to say goodbye to the deceased were crying, laying flowers on the coffins to the funeral motive “Plyve Kacha.” The participants chanted “Heroes do not die” and knelt to honor the victims.
After the funeral procession, the Ukrainian Heroes were taken to their home towns and villages. It was reported by the press-center of the Kyiv Patriarchate.
Today their funerals are held.
Eternal glory to the heroes of Ukraine!
