Born on October 30, 1989 in the village of Malynivka, Chuguiv district, Kharkiv region, into a military family. In 2007, he graduated from Chuguiv gymnasium No. 5 of the Chuguiv city council, Kharkiv region. In 2011, he graduated from the Academy of Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine (Kharkiv) and was assigned to the Crimean Territorial Command of the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine. He served as commander of the 2nd company of the 3rd battalion of the 47th special forces regiment of the Internal Troops "Tiger" of the Crimean Territorial Command of the Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine.
The entire Goncharov family, except for their mother, are military.
Vitaliy's father is a pensioner of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, both older brothers are also in uniform. The situation in the family was quite difficult: the mother was very ill. She died soon after the death of her son. In 2023, Vitaliy's father also died.
Marital status: not married.
«"He only managed to serve 2.5 years, – says the deceased’s brother, Yevhen. – I graduated from the Academy of Internal Troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, where I now teach. I met my girlfriend, Valeria, there. The young people planned to get married, but it didn’t work out. In January 2014, Vitalik, together with the unit in which he served, was sent to Kyiv, and Valeria was waiting for him. Valeria worked in the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Kharkiv.».
Circumstances of death:
On February 18, 2014, at approximately 9:00 p.m., during clashes with protesters, he received a gunshot wound on Instytutska Street in Kyiv. According to his colleagues, an unknown person fired a gun from the roof of one of the buildings. The sniper's bullet hit him in the neck with a 12-gauge "Polyava-B" bullet. Doctors fought for the boy's life, but he died in an ambulance ("Death caused by a gunshot wound to the neck" - expert's conclusion dated 02/21/2014 No. 573).
On February 22, 2014, a farewell ceremony was held in the building of the Ukrainian Musical Theater, located on the central Lenin Square in the Crimean capital. About five thousand people gathered to honor the memory of the fallen soldiers. In addition to ordinary residents, colleagues of the fallen - officers of the special police units - also came here.
On February 24, 2014, a farewell ceremony for Vitaliy was held at the District House of Culture of the city of Chuguiv.
Vitaliy was buried in the cemetery in the village of Malynivka, Chuhuyiv district, Kharkiv region.