"SOTNYK"

Rostyslav was from Ternopil and had been a member of Plast, the Ukrainian scouting organization, since childhood. From 1990, he belonged to the “Matsky” group of the 13th Oleksa Dovbush Plast unit. His Plast nickname “SOTNYK” later became his combat call sign. Rostyslav was a man of action, responsibility, and strength. He studied in Ternopil, worked in civilian life, and had a family. In March 2022, he voluntarily stood up to defend Ukraine. He went through the battles in Kyiv Oblast, the Slobozhanshchyna counteroffensive, Bakhmut, Soledar, and the Kupiansk axis. His brothers-in-arms remember him as a man with enormous experience, a dependable commander, and an older brother who knew how to find an approach to everyone. He worked on evacuation missions, helped his brothers-in-arms, and was a capable medic. Even after being wounded, he returned to the ranks and became the group’s senior sergeant. On 12 October 2023, near the village of Ivanivka in Kharkiv Oblast, Rostyslav tried to pull out a brother-in-arms. At that moment, he entered battle against a superior enemy group. He was one step away from victory but sustained a fatal wound. He was 44. Rostyslav is survived by his wife Anna and daughters Anastasiia and Sofiia. “SOTNYK” is about loyalty. About quiet strength. About a man who did not abandon his own. About someone who kept his promise to the end. We remember Rostyslav.