Valentyn V. Levchenko (Lova)

18-year-old soldier Valentin Levchenko (call sign Lyova) was killed in action in battle with the occupiers on July 19, 2022, near the village of Dementiivka in the Kharkiv region. While performing a combat mission, he got into an enemy ambush. Valentin was from the village of Kozylivka, Chernihiv region. In 2021, he entered the National University of Bioresources and Nature Management and moved to Kyiv. According to relatives, he had leadership inclinations and a strong character. He was engaged in kettlebell sports and shooting, loved to swim. Life had just begun, he planned for the future, wanted to live and explore the world. However, in 2022, he took academic leave "until victory" and went to war. With the start of the full-scale Russian invasion, the boy voluntarily came to the capital's TCK to give a worthy rebuff to the aggressor with arms in hand. Thus, he became a machine gunner of the 4th company of the 242nd separate battalion of the 241st separate brigade of the territorial defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Later, he was sent to the zone of active hostilities. Valentin was the commander of the department, and 13 soldiers were under his command. And on the front, he proved himself to be a real warrior. "At night on July 19, the group carried out a combat mission near Dementiivka, where the Russians had previously destroyed a Ukrainian reconnaissance group. While occupying positions, Valentin went on reconnaissance on his own initiative. The forest strip that was nearby turned out to be occupied by the enemy. The Russians were hiding there in "kikimoras". Valentin saw them, but did not have time to raise his machine gun - they opened crossfire on him. At such a terrible cost, with his life, he saved thirteen guys. A brave 18-year-old defender who laid down his life for his Motherland. Due to the dense shelling by the occupiers, his body could not be taken from the battlefield. A friend managed to drag him into the nearby forest strip. Five days after Valentin's death, they conducted a daring operation under the nose of the enemy in broad daylight, but took the body of their Lyova", - told the comrades of the deceased. The young hero was buried in his native village. Valentin left behind his parents, older sister, other relatives, friends and comrades. Posthumously, soldier Valentin Levchenko was awarded the Order of Courage of the III degree.