Tragedy and valor: Ratushnyi brothers’ sacrifice in Ukraine
Sad news is coming from Ukraine. Vasyl Ratushnyi, a Ukrainian drone operator who was participating in a combat mission with the group "Ptachy Madiara," has died. This is another tragedy for the Ratushnyi family, who had already lost their younger son, Roman, who fell in 2022 during the battles near Izium.
On the night of February 25, 2025, during a combat mission, Vasyl Ratushnyi, a Ukrainian drone operator, known among his military colleagues by the pseudonym "Kasztan," was killed following a direct hit by an FPV drone, as confirmed by his mother, writer Svitlana Pavaliva.
According to Belsat TV, the man, being part of the "Ptachy Madiara" group, died while carrying out a combat task. His companions survived. The death of Vasyl Ratushnyi is another immense tragedy for the family. His father, a former journalist and operator for "Belsat," Taras Ratushnyi, in an emotional farewell, cited words his son recently wrote in a correspondence.
Despite the risk and brutality of the war, Vasyl had a clearly defined goal that guided him during his service: "When I look into the future, I understand: the only thing that should worry me is a multiple increase in the losses of the sub-frames, in order to at least suspend the fighting for a while. All other things, especially those that reduce [the enemy's] losses, will simply not make sense."
According to "Belsat," Vasyl Ratushnyi, despite his young age, had already been awarded the prestigious "Golden Cross" – an honorary distinction given by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. It is an expression of recognition for his courage and dedication in the fight for Ukraine's independence.
His brother died earlier
The Ratushnyi family, struck by this new loss, faces yet another war-related tragedy. In 2022, during the first day of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Vasyl's younger brother, Roman Ratushnyi, was killed.
As reported by "Belsat," Roman, like Vasyl, had been fighting for his homeland's freedom from the start. After completing his contract with the Armed Forces in 2019, he decided to build his own home. However, just after the invasion began, he stood in defence of Kyiv, organizing local self-defence. He soon joined the 93rd Independent Mechanized Brigade as a scout. Roman fell on June 9, 2022, in the battles near Izium, at the age of just 24 years.
His name was honoured in 2023 when it was given to the "Protasiv Yar" nature reserve, which Roman actively supported, leading the initiative to protect this area. The Ratushnyi family, despite their great losses, consistently remains a symbol of the steadfast fight for Ukraine's independence, their sacrifice serving as proof of their unwavering pursuit of freedom.
The death of both Ratushnyi brothers during this brutal war represents immense tragedy, but also an invaluable contribution to the fight for Ukraine's sovereignty.
