Farewell Held in Lviv for Soldier Oleg Avdiyiev, Who Died from Stab Wounds

In Lviv, on Saturday, April 4, a farewell ceremony was held for 52-year-old soldier Oleg Avdiyiev, who died on April 2 as a result of a stab wound to the neck. The ceremony took place at the Lychakiv Cemetery, where he was buried with all military honors, as reported by Suspilne.

Colleagues, friends, and family members attended the farewell. Among those present was Staff Sergeant Lidiya Ilkiv from the Galician-Frankivsk Regional Territorial Center for Recruitment and Social Support, who expressed her deep sorrow over the tragedy. "He was killed in Lviv, in a rear city while performing his duties. We see that people walk the streets of the rear city, ready to attack military personnel. This is a very dangerous trend during wartime, and it pains us greatly. Territorial centers are an integral part of the Armed Forces, and there is a tendency now that we are not so grateful to the military," she noted.

The deceased's friend, Natalia, also shared her memories of Oleg Avdiyiev. "He was athletic, had a very good character, and was a kind person," she added, emphasizing the positive traits of the late soldier.

Oleg Avdiyiev was born on April 7, 1973. He obtained higher education at the Lviv State University of Physical Culture and the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv. After completing his mandatory military service, he worked in the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. Additionally, he had significant experience in sports organizations and government institutions, and since 2018, he had led the public organization Association of Olympic Athletes of Ukraine.

Avdiyiev participated in two Winter Olympic Games: in 1998 in Nagano, Japan, and in 2002 in Salt Lake City, USA. He also earned numerous awards in international competitions, was a master of sports of international class, and a bronze medalist in the Ukrainian Swimming Championship among veterans.

Since 2025, Oleg served in the Armed Forces of Ukraine as an officer in the mobilization department of the Galician-Frankivsk Regional Territorial Center for Recruitment and Social Support in Lviv. He was awarded medals from the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, as well as the distinction of Excellent Border Guard of the I degree. Oleg is survived by his wife, mother, brother, and cousin.

The tragedy occurred on April 2 around 1:30 PM on Paton Street in Lviv, where the 52-year-old soldier from the Territorial Center was fatally wounded in the neck. Military personnel from the Galician-Frankivsk Regional Territorial Center and police were conducting document checks near one of the stores. During the interaction, a dispute arose, leading a 28-year-old man, a relative of the suspect, to flee, while the soldier attempted to stop him.

According to the Office of the Prosecutor General, a customs inspector allegedly pulled a knife from his bag, chased the soldier, and inflicted several targeted stabs to the chest and neck. One of the stabs proved fatal, damaging the carotid artery, and despite the efforts of medical personnel, the soldier died en route to the hospital.

After the attack, the suspect fled in a vehicle with his brother; however, he was quickly located and detained under Article 208 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine. A criminal proceeding was initiated under paragraph 8 of part 2 of Article 115 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (intentional murder). On April 3, customs inspector Andriy Trush was remanded in custody for two months without the right to bail.

This tragedy has sparked outrage among military personnel and the public, as it highlights a dangerous trend of violence against service members even in the rear, necessitating urgent action from the state and society.