Biography

Ivan Ivanovych Trembak was born on August 16, 1963, in the village of Nova Kruhliakivka, Kharkiv region. In his youth he worked as a miner in Murmansk, Russia, before returning to Ukraine with his family so that his son could attend a Ukrainian school. Back home, Ivan found employment as a locksmith on a farm, where his skills and reliability were valued.

He and his wife Mariia settled in the village of Bohuslavka, where they became known for their patriotism and kindness. During the conflict in 2014, they welcomed Ukrainian soldiers into their home, offering food and clean clothes. Ivan was remembered as a man who could repair almost anything—he built stoves, chimneys, and even wove household items from willow. Together with Mariia, he raised a daughter and a son, instilling respect and love in their children.

When Bohuslavka fell under occupation in 2022, the couple temporarily left, but after liberation they returned and continued to support defenders of Ukraine. Despite increasing shelling in 2024, they remained in their home, reluctant to leave behind their animals and the life they had built.

On the night of August 23, 2024, Russian forces dropped aerial bombs on Bohuslavka. Three bombs struck the Trembak house, destroying it completely. Ivan and Mariia were killed together in their home.

They were buried in Kryvyi Rih, Dnipropetrovsk region. Ivan Trembak is remembered as a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, a man of skill and resilience whose life was rooted in family and community. His memory continues to live on in the hearts of his children and three grandchildren.