Serhii O. Balshanek (Bilyi)

Soldier Serhii Balchanek (call sign Bilyi) was killed on November 12, 2023 near the village of Lyman Pershyi, Kharkiv region. The warrior received a fatal explosive injury while performing a combat mission. The defender was forever 36 years old. Serhii was born in the village of Turbiv in Vinnytsia region. After finishing school, he entered the Vinnytsia Higher Vocational and Technical School No. 11, where he obtained the qualification of an electrician for the repair of electrical equipment. He worked at the company "Automobile Roads of Ukraine", later - at LLC "Peleta" as a loader operator. In 2012, he graduated with honors from the Vinnytsia College of the National University of Food Technologies with a degree in "Installation and operation of electrical equipment of enterprises and civil structures". He had golden hands and could fix almost anything. His last job was at LLC "Pelegrin", where he held the position of tractor operator. After the full-scale invasion, he joined the 57th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade, was a rifleman of the 3rd mechanized platoon of the 1st mechanized company. He had the rank of soldier. "We lived 16 happy years together, 11 of them in marriage. The best man in the world, a father, a friend and just a wonderful and bright person, about whom it is impossible to say a single bad word," said his wife Viktoriia. The defender was buried at the Central Cemetery in his native village. Serhii is survived by his wife, son, daughter and parents.