Vitalii Kozak was a real patriot of Ukraine. He defended Maidan in Kyiv in the hardest days of the Revolution of Dignity, and soon went to the front as a volunteer soldier.

In June, 2015, Sergeant of the reconnaissance platoon Vitalii Kozak died carrying out a combat task in the area of anti-terrorist operation.

According to the Presidential Decree of September 22, 2015, No. 553/2015, Sergeant Kozak Vitalii Mykhailovych was posthumously awarded the Order "For courage" of the 3rd degree for courage, dedication and high professionalism, showed in the protection of state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, loyalty to the Oath of Allegiance.

During the session of the executive committee of Tlumatska local council, the mayor of Tlumach Volodymyr Korzheniovskyi granted the order for a flat to the parents of the perished hero. He also informed that 20 other flats were bought for the families of the perished ATO participants last year. Volodymyr Korzheniovskyi noted that such a practice will continue in the present year.