Bohdan was born and raised in Zaporizhzhia. From an early age, he was passionate about railways. He studied at the Zaporizhzhia Children's Railway and later graduated from the Zaporizhzhia Railway Transport Lyceum. He worked at Zaporizhstal as an assistant locomotive driver while studying part-time to achieve his biggest dream of becoming a locomotive driver. He enjoyed reading, making things with his own hands, learning about technologies, and playing computer games, while also finding time for volunteering.
"He was honest, determined, and dreamed of trains. He wanted to become a locomotive driver and see the world. Bohdan was a very responsible person," recalls his mother, Nataliia BLOKHINA.
In 2023, Bohdan traded his work uniform for a military one. He became a drone operator with the 43rd Separate Mechanised Brigade and carried out combat missions in the Kupiansk sector. His technical mindset helped him quickly master his new specialty, while the skills he had developed through years of playing computer games proved useful in operating drones.
His call sign in the military was "Student". His comrades-in-arms gave him that call sign because of his curiosity, his eagerness to learn, and his ability to quickly absorb new knowledge.
In August 2025, Bohdan was killed in the Kharkiv region while carrying out a combat mission.
"They had just reached their position when very intensive shelling began. First, an FPV drone struck, and then that place came under heavy fire. Sadly, he was killed at his position,” recalls the Hero's mother.
For his courage and selfless service, Bohdan Lysiakov was posthumously awarded the President of Ukraine's distinction "For the Defence of Ukraine".
At Zaporizhstal, Bohdan is remembered as a responsible and sincere young man who was dedicated to his work and engaged in volunteer activities.
"He was young, talented, interested in many things, and had great potential. He later fought with the same dedication he had demonstrated in his work and volunteering. He believed in the importance of what he was doing. We are proud of our colleague, thank him for defending us, and will always remember Bohdan," says Maksym POLITANSKYI, a locomotive driver with the Railway Department.
Bohdan is survived by his mother, grandmother, younger sister, and a large, close-knit family, for whom he will always remain a loving son, grandson, and brother.
Today, Bohdan Lysiakov's name is engraved on the Tree of Memory Memorial in Zaporizhzhia, among the names of the Heroes who gave their lives defending Ukraine. This place reminds us of whose dreams were cut short by war, but whose courage and sacrifice will never be forgotten.
The heroism of Bohdan and 86 Zaporizhstal steelworkers who gave their lives defending Ukraine will forever remain in our memory. Their names, along with those of fallen service members who worked at other Metinvest facilities, are immortalised in the Metinvest Memorial. Let us honour their courage, sacrifice, and cherished memory.
