Four Ukrainian activists killed in car accident in Lviv Oblast (08/01/04)

Four Ukrainian activists killed in car accident in Lviv Oblast

by Vasyl Pawlowsky
Special to The Ukrainian Weekly

KYIV - Four leading Ukrainian activists - three from Great Britain and one from Ukraine - died on July 25 in the Zolochiv region of the Lviv Oblast as the result of a collision between the car in which they were traveling, a VAZ-2107, more commonly known as a Lada, and a Volkswagen Transporter van.

According to initial reports, the driver suffered a heart attack shortly before the collision, causing him to lose control of the Lada. Lvivska Hazeta reported that eyewitnesses confirmed they saw the car drive into the oncoming lane as if out of control.

Early reports about the accident had indicated that two of the four passengers in the car were pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, the road between the villages of Kurovychi and Pidhaichyky. They were identified as 80-year-old Maj. Dr. Swiatomyr Fostun, who was editor of Ukrainska Dumka (Ukrainian Thought), chairman of the Association of Ukrainian Former Combatants in Great Britain and former general secretary of the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain; and 80-year-old Volodymyr Pihij, a leading member of the Ukrainian community in Rugby, England.

Roman Pankevych, 76, a prominent and long-standing political and community activist from Lviv, who was reported to have been at the wheel of the vehicle by the Lviv-based newspaper Postup, and Markian Sheptycky, the secretary of the national executive of the Association of Ukrainian Former Combatants in Great Britain, treasurer of the St. Sophia Ukrainian Religious Society, chairman of the Ukrainian Social Club affiliate to the London branch of the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain (AUGB) and AUGB executive committee director, both later died from the injuries they sustained.

The veterans had visited Brody for the 60th anniversary commemoration to their fallen brothers-in-arms. The battle at Brody, which took place July 14-22, 1944, saw some of the bloodiest fighting during World War II. Those who survived went on to fight as part of the Ukrainian National Army under the command of Gen. Pavlo Shandruk in 1945. Many of the veterans of the battle of Brody emigrated and made their homes in Great Britain.

A communiqué issued by the AUGB to its members and the Ukrainian community expressed condolences: "We wish to take this opportunity of expressing our profound condolence and heartfelt sympathies to the families, friends and colleagues of all the dearly departed."

"All of the dearly departed will be missed very dearly by everyone who knew them. May their souls rest in peace - Vichna yim pamiat," wrote the AUGB.

Expressions of sympathy may be sent to AUGB Executive Committee, 49 Linden Gardens, Notting Hill Gate, London, England W2 4HG, or to [email protected].

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