The soldier of the UNR Army Matvey Danyluk is the only participant in the battle of Kruty, who survived until Ukraine gained independence in 1991. He died in 1994 at the age of 103 years.
A fighter on shore in secret all his life is that in 1918 he is part of the Kiev Youth School. Bohdan Khmelnitsky survived the battle of Kruty.
“The fact that he participated in the battle of Kruty, then, as I still went to school, did not know. When I started to work, then already this story began to be recognized. But that which was at Kruty, he never boasted. He even had a flag, which he had kept sewn in a pillow for so many years,” said Svetlana Kirichuk, a teacher from Vatinets village, Gorokhovsky district, Volyn region.
Photo © zaxid.net
Upon returning to the village, the favorite pastime of Matvey's grandfather was fishing. He disappeared on the river Chornoguzka all day, and also taught children. In the village, the long-liver had respect and authority.
There are no men left in the village; there are no descendants in the village either. His wife Marina died at the age of 101. He had three sons, all fought in World War II. The Vatinetsky school still remembers its compatriot every year.
“Many then died, only a few people remained, there was a big massacre. The infantry, as it snuck to the students, then killed many. I probably wouldn’t go because I was scared, but these guys are very brave,” said Igor’s student at the Vatinetsky school.