Vitaliy “Vitakha” Stiba died on the outskirts of Bakhmut, Donetsk Oblast, on August 23.
Born and raised in Rivne, Vitaliy attended the 25th School and later the Technical College. He was active in martial arts and won the regional WAKO kickboxing championship. On June 25, 2022, he got married.
Though he had not served in the army, Vitaliy felt a calling to defend his country and fully committed to that mission. Together with his brother, he volunteered for the war, joining the special forces unit “Honor” in the “Wolves Da Vinci” Battalion. His call sign was “Vitakha.”
He served in one of the hottest spots of the “red” zone. Unfortunately, during a sweep of a warehouse, he and his comrades came under enemy fire. In the ensuing gunfight, Vitaliy received a fatal wound.