Oleksandr A. Martyniuk (Martyn)

Senior soldier Oleksandr Martyniuk (call sign Martin) was killed on October 26, 2022, near the village of Odradivka in Donetsk region. While carrying out a combat mission, the fighter sustained fatal injuries during an enemy mortar shelling. He had turned 48 just 4 days before this. Oleksandr was born in the Rivne region. He completed 9 grades of secondary school. He then enrolled in the Mlyniv Technical School to study "Veterinary Medicine." Later, he settled in Kyiv. He was married. He worked hard to provide for his family, with whom he loved to spend his free time. In 2015–2016, he participated in the ATO in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, serving as an anti-aircraft gunner in one of the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. During the full-scale Russian invasion, he once again took up the defense of Ukraine against the occupiers. He fought in the 30th Separate Mechanized Brigade named after Prince Konstantin Ostrogskiy and served in the machine gun platoon. "My brother Oleksandr was a good person. The best brother and the best uncle in the world. After the death of our mom and dad, he was a wise advisor and protector to me. I was the happiest sister in the world. He will forever be in my heart because a senseless death and this damned war separated us. Oleksandr fulfilled his duty to defend his state with honor; he went to defend Ukraine from the very first day," said the soldier's sister, Svitlana. The defender was buried in his native village of Yapolot on Rivne region. Oleksandr is survived by his wife Tetiana, son Vladislav, relatives, friends, and comrades.