Killed by Russia: entrepreneurs who died in the war

The ABO Local Media Development Agency created the Memorial: Killed by Russia at the beginning of the full-scale invasion. The memorial keeps the names of civilians and soldiers who died as a result of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. 

In cooperation with Memorial: Killed by Russia, Svidomi tells the story of entrepreneurs who went to defend Ukraine's sovereignty with weapons in their hands and were killed.

Senior Lieutenant Oleh Vorobiov died on May 30, 2022, while performing a combat mission in the east. He was 45 years old. 

Oleh Vorobiov was born in Lviv. He graduated from the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, majoring in physics. He worked at the Institute of Condensed Matter Physics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. Then he decided to engage in public activities. He studied at the Business School of the Ukrainian Catholic University.

He participated in the ATO. Later, together with his wife, he founded the project of psychological support for veterans' families, Happy Together. He also had his own shop selling Chinese tea and accessories for tea ceremonies. He loved music and played in the Lviv experimental band Riasni Drova Consort. 

With the beginning of the full-scale invasion, he went to defend Ukraine as a member of the 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade named after King Danylo.

Senior Lieutenant Oleksandr Kuzmenko died on April 15, 2022, while performing a combat mission near the village of Zelena Dolyna in the Donetsk region. The 42-year-old officer was wounded as a result of a mortar attack.

Oleksandr Kuzmenko was born in the city of Lyman, Donetsk region. He graduated from the National Technical University "Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute". Later, he received a degree in Organisation Management at the Interdisciplinary Institute of Postgraduate Education at the National Technical University "Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute". He had his own business: a metalworking shop and a shop called Kovalskyi Dvir. 

From 2014 to 2018, he served in the Armed Forces of Ukraine and participated in the Anti-Terrorist/Joint Forces Operation. At the beginning of the full-scale invasion, he joined the 111th separate terrorist defence brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and was a commander of a reconnaissance company.

"My husband is brave, honest, responsible, a patriot of his country, always there to help, a loving father, a very intelligent and bright person," said his wife, Victoria.

Serhii Vasiuta, with the call sign "Kuznets", died on June 18, 2022, from a sniper's bullet near the village of Neskuchne, Donetsk region.

The soldier was born and lived in Dnipro. Until 2013, he worked as an accountant, then taught "Defense of Ukraine". He also had his own business - the LaserFront active recreation club, where they played laser tag and held birthdays and patriotic events.

From 2014 to 2015, he participated in Anti-Terrorist Operation. During that period, the man was awarded the President of Ukraine's insignia for participation in the anti-terrorist operation, the Chief of the General Staff's insignia "Anti-Terrorist Operation Participant", and the medal "For Loyalty to the National Idea".

When he retired, he continued his work. At the same time, he worked as a military tactical training coach for civilians. Then, on February 24, he joined the 99th separate battalion of the Territorial Defenсe of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The man's eldest son, who is 25 years old, is now serving in the Armed Forces.

Anti-Terrorist Operation veteran Oleh Perehuda, call sign "Skif," died on June 14, 2022, near the village of Bohorodychne in the Donetsk region.

After the Maidan in 2014, Oleh Perehuda volunteered to serve in the east and performed combat missions in the ranks of the National Guard. Two years later, he returned home due to an injury.

Together with his veteran friends, he founded Ukrainian Smart Automation in Ivano-Frankivsk: they developed a bedside panel for hospitals that includes a doctor call system, lamps, and Wi-Fi access. Together with his wife, he also created a rehabilitation centre for soldiers and ATO participants called 4.5.0. Prykarpattia".

When the full-scale invasion began, Skif returned to the front line. 

"He is a man to look up to. A cold mind, composure, dignity and honour were in everything he did. It's a shame to realise that our best people have to go through a black and vile horde for whom household appliances and a toilet are miracles. This is not just a clash of two cultures. This is a real confrontation between good and evil, and Oleh was the embodiment of everything that is bright and human," Ivan Vidlyvanyi wrote.

32-year-old soldier Danylo Bohuslavskyi died on October 16, 2022, during an artillery shelling of the village of Nova Kamianka in the Kherson region.

Danylo Bohuslavskyi was born in Kharkiv. When he was one year old, his parents moved to Uzhhorod. In 2011, he graduated from the Faculty of International Economic Relations at the Lviv Commercial Academy. 

Since 2019, he has been working for the international IT company Just Answer, managing the administrative and operational activities of the company in the region. In parallel to his main job, he created and managed a service station with the telling name SAMZLAMAV [Self-Hacking - TN]. 

He was an active player and functionary of the NGO Sports Club Lisoruby [Lumberjacks - TN], and participated in the activities of the American Football Federation of the Transcarpathian region. He is a three-time champion of Ukraine in American football and a candidate for master of sports. 

On the first day of the full-scale war, he joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He served as a rifleman-assistant grenade launcher in the 128th Mountain Assault Transcarpathian Brigade.