Irpin mourns 20-year-old hero Viktor Tolstyi — a life cut short on the Zaporizhzhia front
The local community pays tribute to a young National Guard serviceman who was killed during fighting near Olhivske. The funeral schedule is important to his relatives and to everyone who remembers his path.
By Tetiana Suchkova-Ladik
March 16, 2026 · 1 min read
Briefly
The Irpin community will bid farewell to 20‑year‑old Viktor Tolstyi. This was reported by the acting mayor of Irpin — secretary of the council, Anzhela Makeieva.
What happened
Viktor Anatoliyovych Tolstyi was born on April 16, 2003, in the village of Hrushyne, Lozova District in the Kharkiv region. In 2021 he joined the ranks of the National Guard of Ukraine and from the first days of the full‑scale invasion went to the front. He served as a junior sergeant, a squad commander, and carried out combat missions on the Zaporizhzhia direction.
Circumstances of death
On June 7, 2023, during fighting for the settlement of Olhivske (Polohy District), Viktor was killed. His body is being brought to Irpin so that the final tribute can take place beside his mother — for the family this is important not only emotionally, but also as part of the process of commemorating him.
Awards and recognition
For personal courage and selfless service to Ukraine, junior sergeant Viktor Tolstyi was posthumously awarded the Order "For Courage," 3rd class.
Farewell
The farewell will take place on Wednesday, March 18:
13:30 — a living corridor near the turn to the cemetery (Universytetska St.);
13:45 — burial rite at the Alley of Remembrance for Ukraine's Defenders.
“The Irpin community will bid farewell to 20‑year‑old Hero Viktor Tolstyi”
— Anzhela Makeieva, acting mayor of Irpin — secretary of the council
Why it matters
This story is about a young person who went to defend the country and gave his life on the front. For the community, such farewells are not only rituals of mourning but also reminders of the systemic cost of war: young people who became part of the nation's defense. The memory of Viktor is also an occasion to recall the needs of the families of the fallen and the systemic support that should surround them.
Eternal memory and glory to the Hero.
