Vladyslav CHORNOMORETS

Vladislav Chornomorets was born in the city of Dnipro. In 2018, he began working on the railway as an assistant train driver at the Dnipro motor car depot of the regional branch "Pridniprovsk Railway."

Vladislav's mother, Oksana Oleksandrivna, recounts that her son dreamed of the railway from a young age and wanted to become a train driver. His teacher said, "All the kids don't know what they want to be, only your Vladik knows." There are many railway workers in Vladislav's family: his grandfather was a locomotive driver, his father was a master in the auto-stop shop, and his mother was a senior dispatcher. Vlad easily integrated into the depot team. He never took advantage of his mother's managerial position and always made decisions on his own.

Since July 2020, Vladislav served in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, joining the air defense troops in Kyiv. He enjoyed it there, so after completing his term in 2021, he signed a contract to continue his service.

Not long after, the war began, and Vladislav found himself on the front lines. He was wounded near the village of Krynkі in the Kherson region. He underwent treatment and rehabilitation, constantly worrying about his comrades. As soon as he recovered, he rushed back to his unit in Kharkiv, even without passing the military medical commission after his serious injury. His mother recalls, "I was very worried about my son, as he is my only child. When Vladislav was offered to study to become a lieutenant, I advised him to accept, but he made his own choice – he stayed with the guys..."

The 23-year-old soldier was killed on July 5, 2024, as a result of a mortar shelling while performing a combat mission near the village of Starytsia in the Kharkiv region. His older comrades affectionately called Vlad "sonny," protecting him as best they could, but the irreparable happened...

Today, Vladislav's mother continues to keep in touch with his combat comrades. Oksana Oleksandrivna describes her son as a very kind and sensitive person: "He never offended anyone in life, envied no one, and was not vindictive. He was very sociable – everyone in the village of Taromske, where we live, knows him. Open and sociable. He loved football and was a member of the Dnipro fan club."

Serhiy Kolesnyk, a train driver who worked and befriended Vladislav, shared about his friend: "A real person who doesn't pretend to be someone else, doesn't play a role. He loved his job, was passionate about it, as he dreamed of being a train driver from a young age. He worked, rested, smiled, and joked. When the war came, Vlad had no thoughts of hiding. After his injury, he could have found a job away from the front lines, but he didn't leave his comrades. A true man."

Vlad was collecting donations for a vehicle for his unit. After his death, his mother Oksana Oleksandrivna contributed the missing funds. Soon, the vehicle with Vlad's call sign will head to the front lines – to "his" comrades, just as he dreamed.

Vladislav did not have the chance to start his own family.

The team at the Dnipro motor car depot deeply mourns the irreparable loss and expresses sincere condolences to Oksana Oleksandrivna, Vladislav Chornomorets' family, and loved ones. We bow our heads in honor of our colleague's bravery, who returned to the front lines, disregarding his safety for the sake of his comrades. His love for family, respect for his profession, and loyalty to friends are values we will cherish. We remember your heroism, Defender!