Konstantin “Istanbul” Yuzviuk is a fan of the football club “Veres” (Rivne), a representative of the team “Rivne Red-Black”.

Konstantin Viktorovich Yuzviuk was born on October 20, 2000 in the city of Rivne. He studied in the city lyceums No. 7 and 23. He studied computer technology in Poland for four years, but returned to Ukraine during the Covid pandemic. Since childhood, he was very inquisitive, loved to spin and break everything around, tried to understand - what everything was made of. Participated in an environmental group and was very fond of animals.

He was engaged in combat arm wrestling “Spas”, football and basketball. I really liked roller skating and running. Later he initiated the idea of “running for donut” and implemented it himself despite fatigue and after leaving combat positions, encouraged friends and brothers to run.

Since childhood, Kostya and his sister were sent on summer holidays to his grandparents, who watched and never missed all football matches. Konstantin spent summer days on the field, playing football with friends, and evenings in front of the TV watching family games of his favorite teams.

In his hometown, he supported the football club “Veres” and basketball club “Rivne”. And over time, even when he was in the service in his spare time he watched the broadcasts on the record, discussing with friends and brothers.

Konstantin's parents were volunteers, and he himself devoted almost all his free time to helping others. At the age of 13, he became a participant in the Revolution of Dignity. The administrator of the Rovno institutions was there and during the capture. Because of this, the parents decided to organize a “house arrest” for Konstantin, but in his own words he convinced them to change their minds, and even join the actions. “Now a story is being made, which our children and grandchildren will then read about in books,” he said.

In civilian life, from 2014 until his death, Konstantin was a participant in volunteer initiatives: he worked in aid warehouses, was engaged in the evacuation of animals. Went to the Donbas to the military, bringing furry from there. Then he attached animals, sometimes abroad. He was a member of the animal and environmental rescue movement UAnimals, as well as the NGO “Building Ukraine Together”. He was the organizer of the first “March for Animal Rights” in Rivne.

While studying at a Polish college, he became a vegan. Did not consume meat, fish, dairy products and eggs. Subsequently, Konstantin, together with like-minded people, developed vegan dry soldering, which received the approval of the Ministry of Defense.

Already during the full-scale war, Konstantin took courses in tactical medicine at the NGO “White Berets”. Soon, having said at home that he was going on a week-long trip, he took UAV control courses in the Ukrainian Volunteer Army, to which he later joined, served in the Zaporizhzhya direction.

Having signed a contract with the Armed Forces of Ukraine, he served as a drone operator in the 117th OMBR, where he took the call sign “Istanbul”. He was the commander of the department.

On July 16, 2024, Konstantin Yuzviuk and his brothers came under attack by cluster bombs, while performing a combat mission in Zaporizhzhya region. For two more days, doctors fought for Istanbul's life, but on July 18 his heart stopped.

During his lifetime, Constantine made a will, where he ordered in case of death. According to the will: his body was cremated, and at the farewell there were only light shades, embroidered shirts and military uniform. Everyone's faces were in sparkles and everyone drank Taras kvass. Part of the funds collected in the farewell was distributed to help the units donated by Kostya, and for the rest, the relatives purchased the refrigerator “On the Shield” “Istanbul”, which brings the last dead servicemen to their relatives. Also, his family refused petitions for titles and awards, because despite the great recognition in the city, Constantine avoided honors during his lifetime.

Eternal glory to the Hero!

‍