Bohdan V. Petrenko (Martin)

Senior soldier Bohdan Petrenko (call sign Martin) was killed on May 8, 2022, during the assault on the village of Pavlivka in the Donetsk region. The warrior sustained a fatal mine-explosive injury. He was 28 years old. Bohdan was born in the village of Pisky-Rad'kivski in the Kharkiv region. He obtained a degree as a computer science instructor and mathematics teacher at the Kharkiv Humanitarian-Pedagogical Academy. He served in the military on conscription. For some time, he worked at a school. Every year, he went to the "Berezivski Mineral Waters" camp, where he initially worked as a counselor and later as a DJ. He loved children very much, and it was mutual—they constantly gave him various souvenirs, drawings, and posters. He was passionate about photography and videography and was knowledgeable about technology. In 2020, Bohdan signed a contract to serve in the 24th Separate Assault Battalion "Aidar" of the 53rd Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He planned to enroll in a military higher education institution after completing his contract and build a career in the army. From the first days of the full-scale war, Bohdan continued to defend Ukraine alongside his comrades. However, he was not destined to live to see victory. "My son was a very good person. Open, honest, fair, always smiling, he was ready to help at any time. He never hid behind others, always spoke the truth to people's faces, not behind their backs. He could not stand injustice. He was a patriot and loved his country very much. His life mottos were '4.5.0' and 'Everything will be Ukraine,'" said the fallen warrior's mother, Halyna Volodymyrivna. The defender was buried at the Alley of Glory in cemetery No. 18 in Kharkiv. At home, his parents and younger brother were waiting for Bohdan.