Ruslan M. Panchenko

Lieutenant Ruslan Panchenko was killed on October 30, 2022, while carrying out a combat mission near the village of Krasnolubetsk in the Kherson region. The officer was 31 years old. Ruslan was born in the village of Subotsi, Kirovohrad region. He lived in the city of Oleksandriia. He studied at school No. 10. Then he graduated from the Kyiv Aviation University and the Cherkasy Institute of Civil Protection of Ukraine named after the Heroes of Chornobyl. He worked as the head of the response group in the unit of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in the Kirovohrad region. Later, he went to work in Poland. He got married and above all wanted his relatives to live in a peaceful country. At the end of February 2022, he was supposed to go abroad to work again, but the big war began. Ruslan joined the ranks of the 61st Separate Mechanized Steppe Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He was the communications officer - the commander of the control platoon of the 40th self-propelled artillery division. "Brave, cheerful, sincere, open, attentive, cheerful, he easily found a common language with strangers, he was the soul of the company. Always ready to help and solve any issues. He was a kind, sincere person, the best son for his mother, the best brother for his sister, a caring husband for his wife and a loving father for his daughter. He had a lot of plans, but didn't have time... At the end of February, he was supposed to go abroad to work. But the damned war began. Ruslan immediately said: "Mom, I'm needed there. Who, if not me, will protect you? Believe me. And everything will be fine." He loved his family, his dear girls very much. He dreamed of taking his princess and wife to the sea in Egypt, but fate decided otherwise. He gave the most valuable - his life, so that we could live in a free country. We are all proud of you, our Hero! We will always remember your smile, your gaze and your voice! You are in our hearts," Ruslan's mother Olga said. The hero was buried in the military cemetery in the city of Oleksandriia. At home, Ruslan was awaited by his mother Olga, sister Viktoriia, wife Oksana and daughter Sofiia.