The soldier served as a grenadier and fought his final battle near Krasnohorivka back in September 2024. Until recently, he was considered missing in action. On Wednesday, November 11, his fellow townsman will be laid to rest.
The Onokivska territorial community in the Uzhhorod district is once again in mourning. After months of uncertainty and agonizing waiting, the death of a resident of the village of Kam’yanitsa—Viktor Anatoliyovych Rilets, a grenadier in the Armed Forces of Ukraine—has been officially confirmed.
The Onokivka Village Council announced the date and details of the funeral service for the fallen soldier.
The Defender’s Military Career and the Battle Near Krasnohorivka
Viktor Rilets was born on September 23, 1982. In June 2024, he joined the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to take up arms in defense of his homeland’s territorial integrity:
- Military specialty: He served as a grenadier in the 3rd rifle squad of the 2nd rifle platoon of the 1st rifle company of military unit A7348;
- Last battle: The soldier’s life was cut short on September 11, 2024, while carrying out a combat mission near the town of Krasnohorivka in the Pokrovsk District of Donetsk Oblast;
- Long months of hope: For a long time, Viktor was considered missing in action. His family, loved ones, and the entire community prayed and hoped until the very end that he would be found alive, but forensic examinations ultimately confirmed the worst—the soldier is returning home “on his shield.”
Schedule for the funeral and burial in the village of Kamianitsa
The funeral service and farewell ceremony for the fallen defender will take place on Wednesday, November 11, 2026:
- 12:00 p.m. — departure of the funeral procession from the regional forensic pathology department (morgue) in Uzhhorod;
- 12:00 p.m. — Formation of the motorcade near the checkpoint in the village of Onokivtsi;
- 1:00 p.m. — the funeral procession arrives at St. Peter and Paul Church in the village of Kam’yanitsa (4 Syriy Potik Street), where the Divine Liturgy and a public farewell ceremony will begin;
- 2:00 p.m. — a funeral procession on foot to the local cemetery and a burial service with military honors.
Residents of Onokivtsi, Kamianitsa, and the surrounding villages are urged to line the route of the funeral procession to form a living corridor of respect, bow their heads in honor of the Hero’s sacrifice, and pay their final tribute to this brave son of Ukraine.
We express our deepest, most sincere condolences to his family, comrades, friends, and everyone who knew Viktor Rilets.
Eternal honor and glory to the Defender of Ukraine! Heroes never die!
