Vitalii Chornohor was born on December 16, 1962, in Pereiaslav, Kyiv region. After graduating from the local school in 1980, he enrolled in the Faculty of Agricultural Electrification at the Ukrainian Agricultural Academy (now the National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine). It was during his student years that he met his future wife, Olena. After completing his studies, the couple returned to Pereiaslav.
Vitalii began his career as an electrician at the local power distribution company. Between 1987 and 1989, he served in the tank forces stationed in Hungary. After military service, he worked at the Tochmash factory, where he held positions as an energy engineer, workshop supervisor, and later chairman of the trade union. In the following years, he occupied senior management roles in several commercial companies, was actively involved in environmental initiatives in Pereiaslav, and maintained a small household with poultry.
According to his wife Olena, Vitalii had a lifelong passion for birds, especially birds of prey such as peregrine falcons, hawks, and falcons. The peregrine falcon, one of the fastest birds in the world, was his favorite. He admired it so much that even his email address included the bird's name.
Olena also recalls that her husband was exceptionally hardworking and gifted with "golden hands." He took great care of their home and garden and even built his own lawn mower and welding machine.
In 2014, the couple planned to join Ukraine's defense efforts in the east by purchasing equipment for the military. Eventually, they became dedicated volunteers. Vitalii quickly became an expert in selecting and delivering military gear and supplies to Ukrainian defenders.
On the very first day of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, Vitalii volunteered for military service. He was appointed chief of reconnaissance and served in the defense of the Kyiv region, including operations near Makariv.
Olena remembers that her husband made the decision without hesitation.
"He looked me straight in the eyes, and I knew how important it was for him to go. I told him, 'Alright—but only if we go together.' We left together. Unfortunately, I couldn't join the military, so I continued volunteering for his unit instead."
Throughout his service, Olena regularly delivered essential supplies to Vitalii's unit, including axes, saws, blankets, binoculars, food, medicine, clothing, and thermal underwear. They both firmly believed in Ukraine's victory.
The last time Olena spoke with her husband was on April 3, 2022. Later that same day, Vitalii was killed after stepping on a landmine near the village of Hoholiv in the Brovary district of Kyiv region while carrying out a combat mission.
His body could only be recovered two weeks later. Vitalii was laid to rest in his hometown of Pereiaslav. His callsign, "Sapsan" ("Peregrine Falcon"), is engraved on his gravestone alongside the image of the bird he loved most.
In 2022, at the initiative of the Prosvita Society, one of the streets in Pereiaslav was renamed in his honor. His wife Olena continues her volunteer work, and since 2023 she has been cooperating with a volunteer center in Denmark, supporting Ukrainian defenders.
Eternal glory and gratitude to Hero Vitalii Chornohor.
Photos: Family archive.
Based on materials from Pereiaslav.City.
Prepared by the Ukrainian National News Agency Ukrinform in cooperation with the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory and the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine's online media outlet ArmyInform.
