The farewell for Mykhailo Lebedev and Oleksandr Yukhymets will take place on Friday, October 24, at 10:00 AM in Independence Square in Rivne. Mykhailo Lebedev will be buried at the cemetery in the village of Shpaniv in the Rivne region, while Oleksandr Yukhymets will be laid to rest at the Alley of Heroes in the regional center.
This is reported by Rivne24
Mykhailo Lebedev was born on November 13, 1977, in the village of Konela in the Cherkasy region. After finishing school, he joined the army. He worked in construction in Kyiv, where he met his future wife, after which they moved to Rivne. Mykhailo loved writing poetry, was interested in history and archaeology, and dreamed of having a metal detector.
In 2015, during the anti-terrorist operation, Mykhailo volunteered to defend the country by joining the 54th Mechanized Brigade. After his second injury, he transferred to security service but continued to go out to the frontline.
The man remained loyal to his homeland during the full-scale invasion as well. Mykhailo said:
“Some are born to write poetry, and I am born to serve”
. His commanders and comrades spoke warmly of him, as he always brought his groups back from combat missions without losses. For this, he was valued and respected.
Unfortunately, 47-year-old Staff Sergeant Mykhailo Lebedev was killed on October 19, 2025, while performing a combat mission in the Kharkiv region. He is survived by his parents, wife, and four children.
Oleksandr Yukhymets was born on August 14, 1990, in Rivne. He studied at the local 23rd school and later obtained a higher education at the National University of Water Management and Nature Management. He worked as a radio mechanic in the emergency rescue team of the State Emergency Service.
Although Oleksandr did not serve in the army, at the onset of the full-scale invasion, he was ready to volunteer to defend the country. However, he was mobilized only a year later.
According to Oleksandr’s wife, he enjoyed his service and felt important. He always emphasized:
“While we fight here, at the front – fight in place, in the rear”
.
Oleksandr was known for his calmness and responsibility; he was kind and thoughtful, always ready to help his friends.
Unfortunately, 35-year-old Junior Sergeant Oleksandr Yukhymets was killed in action on October 15, 2025, in the Donetsk region. He is survived by his parents, five sisters, a brother, a wife, and a three-year-old son.