Killed in action while defending Ukraine — Andrii Buda.

He joined Plast in Ternopil in 1993 as a cub-scout. Later, he became a Scout in the Scout patrol Grey Wolves of the 29th Scout Troop named after Yurii Starosolskyi, and subsequently transferred to the 51st Scout Troop named after S. Zavoiovnyk.

He took his Plast Oath on November 1, 1998. As a Rover Plast member, he became a co-founder of the scout troop.

He served as a scoutmaster of the Grey Wolves scout patrol. From 2005 to 2008, he was a scoutmaster of the another scout patrol and Scout troop`s leader (the main mentor in a scout troop, who coordinates the other mentors)

An active and dedicated Plast member, he organized and co-organized numerous trainings, camps, competitions, and events. He was one of the driving forces behind Indigenous-style scouting and the development of expedition hiking, particularly through the national camp Hoverla. At various times, he served on the local Plast leadership council in Ternopil.

He studied at Secondary School No. 2 in Ternopil and later earned a degree from the Faculty of History at Ternopil Volodymyr Hnatiuk National Pedagogical University.

He was writing a historical dissertation on the development of Plast press and uniforms.

Throughout his life, he worked in various roles, including as a history teacher at School No. 12 in Ternopil, a sales manager, and a manager at the Ye Bookstore, among others.

His passions included writing poetry, reading, archaeology, history, and mountain trekking.

In the early 2000s, he took part in the civic movements “For Truth!” and “Resistance.” He was an active participant in the protests “Ukraine Without Kuchma,” the Orange Revolution, and the Revolution of Dignity.

With the start of the Anti-Terrorist Operation in May 2014, he volunteered for the Defense Forces of Ukraine. He became a soldier of the 6th Territorial Defense Battalion “Zbruch,” formed by volunteer residents of the Ternopil region. He took part in the defense of Mariupol and served in the Kherson region, guarding routes from Crimea.

After demobilization, he returned to Ternopil and worked in the inspection service of the Ternopil Regional Center for the Protection and Scientific Research of Cultural Heritage Sites.

In 2017, he signed a contract with the 10th Separate Mountain Assault Brigade, after which he carried out missions near the city of Popasna in the Luhansk region.

Later, he worked with a Danish foundation engaged in humanitarian demining in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

Following the full-scale Russian invasion, he once again mobilized with the 10th Separate Mountain Assault Brigade “Edelweiss.”

He took part in the defense of Lysychansk and Sloviansk in the Donetsk region.

He served as a private, deliberately refusing NCO ranks. Officially, he was a driver in a machine-gun platoon. In reality, for three years he served in a fire support company, in an anti-tank platoon operating Corsar, Fagot, and Javelin systems. From May 2025, he served in a machine-gun platoon and later operated heavy night drones.

On December 10, 2025, while carrying out a combat mission in the village of Sviato-Pokrovske, Siversk community, Bakhmut district, he was killed as a result of an enemy drone attack.

During his service in the ATO and the full-scale war, he received seven awards and medals.

He is survived by his sister, parents, and close and extended family.

Rest in peace, friend!