On April 26, 2025, hundreds of people gathered in Independence Square in Dubno — family, comrades-in-arms, friends, classmates, coaches, and concerned residents of the city. They came to bid a final farewell to Illia Mishchuk — a brave defender of Ukraine, an athlete, a son, a father. He was only 30 years old.
Illia was born on August 4, 1994, in the village of Povcha in the Rivne region. From an early age, he was an energetic and determined boy with a passion for sports. After his family moved to Dubno, Illia first played football, and later, together with his brother Taras, discovered his calling in rowing. What began as an interest soon became a true passion: training, competitions, victories — and eventually, the title of Master of Sports of Ukraine. Rowing forged both his body and spirit, teaching him endurance, focus, teamwork, and self-discipline — qualities that would later become vital on the battlefield.
Illia earned his higher education at Khmelnytskyi National University and went on to work at a furniture manufacturing company. He lived a peaceful, ordinary life — building a home, raising daughters, making plans for the future. But when the time came, he rose to defend his homeland. In May 2024, he voluntarily signed a contract with the Armed Forces of Ukraine, serving as a senior gunner in a mortar platoon.
He was killed on April 11, 2025, while carrying out a combat mission near Bakhmut. For two weeks, he was listed as missing in action. Those days were an agonizing stretch of pain and hope for his family. Eventually, confirmation of his death arrived.
Illia was laid to rest in the Alley of Glory at the cemetery in his native Dubno. He is survived by his wife, two young daughters, father, brother, sister, and grandfather. His name will live on in the memory of his community, his comrades, and the sporting world…
Eternal glory and remembrance to the Hero!