Roman V. Rybalchenko (Panda)

Sergeant Roman Rybalchenko (call sign Panda) was killed on December 17, 2023 in the village of Robotyne, Zaporizhzhia region. He sustained multiple shrapnel wounds during counteroffensive operations. The warrior was only 23 years old. Roman was from the village of Poltavka, Mykolaiv region. In 2017, he completed full secondary education. He enrolled in the Shipbuilding College of the Admiral Makarov National University of Shipbuilding, where he obtained a junior specialist qualification in "Computer Science". His hobby was gaming. After graduating from college, he went on conscript service. Until February 18, 2023, he served in military unit 3017 of the National Guard of Ukraine. Then he immediately signed a contract with the National Guard. He lived in Kharkiv. On February 24, 2022, he was in the hospital, as he had his kidney removed. After being discharged, he took up the defense of Ukraine. As part of the 3rd Operational Brigade named after Colonel Petro Bolbochan, he participated in the liberation of settlements in the Kharkiv region. Then he fought in the Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia directions. He held the position of anti-aircraft gunner. He was awarded the departmental commendation badge "For Valiant Service" and the "War Veteran" badge. "My brother was an incredible person. I raised him from birth, since I was 12 years old. Life was different, but I was able to instill the best character traits in him - honesty, diligence, justice, dedication, kindness, courage, respect for others. The only thing that set him apart from everyone else was his incredible positivity: he always had everything good and he convinced people around him of this. Brave, desperate, with a great sense of humor, loyal to his country and comrades, he defended Ukraine to the last breath. He was one of the best anti-aircraft gunners in the unit. He was highly valued for his tactical thinking, for always hitting the target," said his sister Yulia Saakyan. Roman was buried in the Alley of Glory of cemetery No. 18 in Kharkiv. The defender is survived by his older sister, niece and mother.