A fearless warrior. A gifted athlete. A mentor to the young. On the front line, while saving a comrade, Junior Lieutenant Petro Bilas, commander of the mortar platoon of military unit A4220, gave his life.
His journey began in 1994 in Truskavets. While still a student at Gymnasium No. 2, he discovered freestyle wrestling, a passion that soon became his life’s calling. Petro repeatedly triumphed at national and international competitions, achieving the standard of Candidate for Master of Sport. His performances and victories inspired his peers and younger athletes alike.
He was named “Best Athlete of Truskavets” and honored by the city mayor. Yet for him, the greatest reward was always the trust of his students and those he trained.
After graduating from school, Petro pursued his path in sport: first at the Ivano-Frankivsk College of Physical Education, then at the Lviv State University of Physical Culture named after Ivan Boberskyi, where he earned a master’s degree. His chosen specialty — “Physical Education” — became his true vocation.
During his mandatory military service, he was responsible for the physical training of soldiers. Under his guidance, they achieved impressive results and won tournaments of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. After returning to civilian life, Petro worked as a freestyle wrestling coach, a physical education instructor, and a teacher of national defense. He raised children and teenagers in the spirit of strength and love for their homeland.
When the full-scale invasion began, Petro joined the defenders without hesitation. His call sign, “Athlete,” perfectly captured his character: determination, endurance, and an unyielding will to win. In battles, including those near Bakhmut, he displayed the same qualities that had distinguished him on the mat — the ability to fight to the very end and never retreat before any obstacle.
As a mortar platoon commander, Petro carried out extremely difficult missions, saving the lives of dozens of comrades through his precision and professionalism. He was a source of morale, authority, and example for his fighters.
His final battle took place on May 5, 2024, near Staromaiorske in the Volnovakha district of Donetsk region. In the act of saving a comrade’s life, Petro Bilas came under fire and was killed. His comrade survived thanks to him, but Petro’s own life could not be spared.
The Hero is survived by his wife and young daughter. His family and all of Ukraine will remember him as a man of great strength and an even greater heart.
Eternal memory to the Hero!