July 16, 2023
34-year-old Senior Lieutenant Ivan Barnych, call sign “Barni,” was killed on July 16, 2023, while performing a combat mission near the village of Stari Mayorsk in Donetsk region. He was considered missing in action for over 3 months. The officer’s death was confirmed on October 20.
Ivan was born in the village of Kropyvnyk in the Ivano-Frankivsk region. He graduated from the State Tax University and the military department, becoming a reserve officer. He got married, and the couple later raised their firstborn, whom Ivan loved very much. The second child, a daughter, was born during the full-scale invasion. Ivan wanted above all to protect his family from the war, so he volunteered at the military enlistment office.
On March 2, 2022, he was mobilized into the ranks of the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He served as the commander of the radio platoon of the communication battalion of the 35th Separate Marine Brigade.
“Ivashka died at the age of 34. A person with a disability group, he could have avoided military service, but on February 24, on the first day of the big war, he came to the recruitment centers four times to protect the peace of his family. He was an extremely kind person, a loving father and husband. Positive and funny, always smiling – and very stubborn, always stood his ground, that’s why we loved him so much. His comrade at the funeral said that he was very combative, simple, and sincere, who despite all thoughts sincerely believed in our victory. Ivashka, we pray for you, you are forever in our hearts,” said the deceased’s cousin Natalia Lasyi.
Senior Lieutenant Barnych I.I. was posthumously awarded the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky III degree.
The officer was buried in his native village.
Ivan is survived by his parents, sister, wife, son, daughter, grandparents, cousins, and nephews.