A young soldier from the village of Bystrytsia died on November 5, 2026, while carrying out a combat mission. Today, November 13, hundreds of fellow villagers knelt down, through tears and inclement weather, to bid farewell to the defender, who is survived by his young wife, young son, parents, and grandmother.
Today, November 13, 2026, the sky over the Chynadiyevo region wept with cold autumn rain, and the hearts of the region’s residents ached with unspeakable pain. The community of the village of Bystrytsia, part of the Chynadiyevo Village Council in the Mukachevo District, laid to rest their fellow villager — Sergeant Oleksandr Mykhailovych Pankovych of the legendary 128th Separate Transcarpathian Mountain Assault Brigade.
The Chinadiyevo Township Council and the Mukachevo Diocese announced the details of the Hero’s farewell ceremony and burial.
A Cut-Short Youth and Loyalty to the Military Oath
Oleksandr Pankovych was born on January 25, 2001, in the village of Bystrytsia. Full of vitality, bright dreams, and plans for the future, the young man stood up to defend his homeland against the Russian aggressor in the ranks of the 128th Separate Mountain Assault Brigade, a unit native to Transcarpathia.
Remaining faithful to his military oath and comrades-in-arms until his last breath, Sergeant Oleksandr Pankovych bravely held back the enemy’s advance. His life was heroically cut short on November 5, 2026, while carrying out a combat mission. His family hoped and prayed for his survival until the very last moment, but the defender returned home “on his shield”—he will forever remain 25 years old.
A Farewell on Bended Knees and a Funeral with Military Honors
Hundreds of fellow villagers, residents of neighboring villages in the community, friends, military personnel, and comrades-in-arms gathered to pay their final respects to the young soldier:
- Memorial Service: The funeral service and farewell ceremony took place at St. Nicholas Church in the village of Bystrytsia. With the blessing of Metropolitan Theodore of Mukachevo and Uzhhorod, the memorial service was led by Archpriest Dimitriy Fenyov, dean of the Mukachevo District Deanery, in conjunction with the clergy of the diocese;
- A corridor of grief: it was hardest on those closest to him—his young wife, his little son, who will grow up without his father’s embrace, his parents, and his grandmother. Together with them, the entire town of Bystrytsia welcomed and saw off their defender on bended knees, through tears and cold rain.
Sergeant Oleksandr Pankovych was buried with full military honors at the local cemetery to the strains of the Ukrainian National Anthem and a three-round salute.
The editorial staff of “Zakarpats’kyi Visnyk” and the residents of all of Zakarpattia express their most sincere and heartfelt condolences to his wife, son, parents, grandmother, fellow soldiers, and all of Oleksandr Mykhailovych’s loved ones. We share your irreparable grief during this difficult time.
May the Lord grant rest to his bright soul in His kingdom. Eternal memory, honor, and glory to the young Hero of Ukraine!
Source and photo: Chynadiyevo Town Council and the Mukachevo Diocese of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church.
