Serhii M. Sokur (Sokil)

Lieutenant Serhii Sokur (call sign Sokil) was killed on September 8, 2023 near the village of Verbove in the Zaporizhzhia region. While carrying out a combat mission, he sustained numerous shrapnel wounds during enemy shelling. He would have turned 47 years old on October 1. Serhii was born in Kyiv. In 1994, he graduated from school No. 28. He then enrolled at the Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture, where he obtained a qualification as a civil engineer. He worked in his field of expertise, serving as a design engineer for ventilation and air conditioning systems. In Kyiv and throughout Ukraine, he worked on numerous projects for residential complexes, gas stations, administrative buildings, shopping centers, and private homes. He loved sports, playing football and tennis. He was also interested in history, political geography, and the issue of population displacement. During the full-scale war, Serhii joined the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He served in the 82nd Separate Airborne Assault Brigade, holding the position of commander of the engineering and sapper platoon. "Serhii was a very decent, honest, and kind person. A loving and attentive husband, a caring father, a thoughtful son, a faithful and reliable friend. Serhii was an interesting person with a sincere soul, able to find a common language with everyone: from a high-ranking leader to a simple worker. In a word, the best," said his wife Iryna. The warrior was buried at the Berkovets Cemetery in Kyiv. Serhii is survived by his parents, wife, and two daughters. The officer was posthumously awarded the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytskyi, 3rd degree.