Andrii V. Panchenko (Batia)

Commander of the platoon Andrii Panchenko (call sign Batia) was killed on August 3, 2023, from a bullet of an enemy sniper in the area of the village of Orikovo-Vasylivka in the Donetsk region. The defender was forever 25 years old. Andrii was born in the city of Fastiv, Kyiv region. He lived in the capital. He graduated from the Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture, obtained the qualification of a construction site manager. He worked at private enterprises. He was interested in handicrafts and construction. He loved poetry, cooking, snowboarding, dancing, adventurism, blogging. With the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the man decided to defend his land. At first, he joined the ranks of the Carpathian Sich battalion. He participated in the defense of Kyiv and the region. Since the end of March 2022, he has served in the 5th separate assault regiment, held the position of a grenadier, defended the Luhansk and Donetsk regions. Since September, he fought as part of the 21st separate motorized infantry battalion "Sarmat" of the 56th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade. He was awarded the distinction of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine "Silver Cross". "We grew up together, Andrii was an important part of my life. He was not a military man, but from February 25, during the full-scale invasion, he became one. The whole family was and is extremely proud of him. Andrii Panchenko is a legend of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. A legend who just didn't have enough time for people to learn about him!" - wrote his cousin Tetiana Voitenko. She shared 10 facts about Andrii. 1. The call sign Batia was given to him because of his decisiveness and ability to take responsibility. 2. According to his comrade Baku, having nothing but automatic weapons, understanding that there was nothing to stop Russian tanks, Andrii decided to stop them with grenades. 3. Twice he climbed into burning buildings in Irpin to retrieve valuable documents. 4. In June 2022, he took part in battles near the Lysychansk oil refinery. During the approach of the Wagner PMC armored group to the positions, he took command and led the group of fighters to preserve the personnel. 5. At the end of July, he took part in the battles for the Vuhlehirsk TPP, where again heroically led the group of fighters. 6. He held back the occupiers in Pisky. Thanks to Andrii and his comrades, the Russian terrorists were unable to break through the defense and enter the rear of the defenders of Avdiivka. 7. He went from grenadier, instructor, squad leader to platoon commander. 8. He repelled the assault on Vuhledar, and went to the cleanup already at the head of his platoon. The operations he carried out as a commander are part of the work of the Sarmat battalion, which was noted by Volodymyr Zelenskyy. 9. After taking up positions in Bakhmut, he became a speaker for the National Marathon "United News" in the Bakhmut direction. 10. He saved the lives of many military personnel, pulling them off the battlefield. He received 3 wounds and could calmly return home due to disability, but stood until the end! "Fighter, you are alive forever! Thank you for having the strength of spirit! Thank you for being a warrior! Forever in the ranks! Forever 25!" - added Tetiana Voitenko. The warrior was buried in the village of Palianychyntsi, Kyiv region. Andrii is survived by his parents, brother, wife, daughter, grandmother, other relatives, friends and comrades-in-arms.