An athlete, coach, teacher, and defender of Ukraine, Liubomyr Fedyniak gave his life for his homeland in the first days of the full-scale invasion, holding back Russian invaders in Kyiv Oblast.
Liubomyr was born in Kropyvnyk in the Kalush region, where from a young age he devoted himself to sport and athletics training. After graduating from the Ivano-Frankivsk College of Physical Culture, he continued his studies at Ternopil Pedagogical University, earning a degree as a physical education teacher.
He began his teaching career at the Kalush Polytechnic College, where he became not only an instructor but later the deputy director for educational affairs. At the same time, beginning in 1994, he worked as a coach at the Sokil Youth Sports School, eventually leading the college’s athletic teams. Under his guidance, the Naftokhimik volleyball team repeatedly won regional tournaments and in 2021 claimed silver at the All-Ukrainian Spartakiad of workers in the chemical and petrochemical industries.
For his professionalism and dedication, Liubomyr received numerous awards from the college, the city, the region, and the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. His colleagues remember him as demanding but fair, and his students as a mentor who knew how to inspire. To his two children, he was a caring father who always found time for trips and active family outings.
Liubomyr began his path as a soldier in 2015, joining Ukraine’s defenders in the Anti-Terrorist Operation zone in Donetsk Oblast, where he commanded a squad and was honored for courage and bravery with several awards, including the medal “For Dignity and Patriotism.”
The full-scale war caught him at home, but by 24 February he was again in uniform. As a grenadier of the 2nd Mountain Assault Company of Military Unit A3892, he and his comrades defended the northern approaches to Kyiv Oblast. On 7 March 2022, during a battle near Sloboda-Kukharska, Liubomyr was killed, holding back the enemy until his final moment.
He returned home forever, finding his final resting place in his native Kropyvnyk, where his name has become a symbol of courage, strength, and love for Ukraine.