Former wrestler Vitalii Boliukh gave his life for the freedom and independence of Ukraine.
He was born on February 21, 1982 in Ternopil. He took his first steps in sports there. Vitalii took up Greco-Roman wrestling in the Complex Children and Youth Sports School. His love for sports, which began in his childhood, was with him all his life. Even as an adult, he continued to be interested in wrestling and attended local and national tournaments. In 2018, he worked at a boat rental center in Ternopil, was a guide for rafting on the Dniester, and constantly helped organize competitions. In addition, Vitalii was a mobile equipment repair specialist and worked for mobile operators.
After the full-scale Russian invasion began, he was among those who stood up to defend Ukraine. He was worried about young people, about their future, believed in God and asked him to save the lives of Ukrainian soldiers. Vitalii stood in defence of the Ukrainian language. He emphasized the necessity of developing Ukrainian-language content. According to his friends, he had a cool feature: the ability to be funny and serious at the same time. It was hard to believe that they would never see each other again in their native Ternopil. Unfortunately, on June 12, 2024, while performing a combat mission in Kharkiv region, Russian invaders ended the life of 42-year-old Vitalii Boliukh, who was doing his best to bring our victory at the frontline, dreaming and believing that Ukraine would soon become a free and successful country.