Forever 27… The war has claimed another Hero — Orest Malovanyiuk, a native of Bukovyna, lieutenant of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, and commander of the reconnaissance group “Hart” (call sign “Taipan”), was killed in action.
He was not only a fearless warrior but also an outstanding athlete. A Master of Sport of Ukraine, national champion in sports orienteering (rogaining) and athletics (24-hour run), and winner of the 2018 Ukrainian youth championship in the mile run. A true champion, he never rested on his achievements—his endurance and unbreakable willpower amazed both on the sports field and the battlefield.
A graduate of the Faculty of Physical Culture, Sports, and Rehabilitation at Chernivtsi National University, Orest Malovanyiuk had planned to dedicate his life to sports, pursuing a master’s degree in “Physical Culture and Sports.” His diligence, strength of spirit, and unwavering commitment inspired both students and professors. Always ready to lend a helping hand, always first in the fight for justice, always steadfast in his belief in victory.
Orest Malovanyiuk had been fighting for Ukraine since 2017. He braved the fiercest frontlines—Sloviansk, Bakhmut sector, Khromove, Klishchiivka—conducting both aerial and ground reconnaissance. His military skills, experience, composure, and precision made him a legend among his comrades. But on February 16, 2025, during a combat mission near Vovchansk in the Kharkiv region, the Hero fought his final battle.
His parents, his wife, and their young daughter are left to mourn him.
Eternal memory and glory to the Hero…