Valentyn V. Marchuk (Shaman)

44-year-old Staff Sergeant Valentin Marchuk (call sign Shaman) was killed in action on July 25, 2022, in the area of the village of Bilohirka, Kherson region. The defender received fatal shrapnel wounds to the head during an enemy shelling. Valentin was born in the city of Norilsk (Russia). At the age of 15, he moved to Ukraine with his family to Vinnytsia region. He graduated from the Zozivsky Professional Agrarian Lyceum. After serving in the army, he remained in the military and served until 2005. In civilian life, he worked as a granite polisher. He lived with his family in the city of Korostyshiv, Zhytomyr region. He loved to read books and walk in the forest. On the first day of the full-scale war, on February 24, 2022, the man went to the military commissariat. He joined the 46th separate assault brigade and went to defend Ukraine against Russian occupiers. "He loved life, children. Always positive, cheerful. Never in my life did my husband give me a reason to be sad. He was always with the children. I sincerely thank fate that you were with me, even if it was for a short time. Comrades say that there will be no such commander again. Because he not only gave orders but also carried them out with the guys. Nikoletta, our youngest daughter, constantly says: "Mom, don't cry, Dad was mistaken, he will return," said the deceased's wife. The defender was buried in Korostyshiv. Valentin is survived by his parents Yevdokia Vasylivna and Vladimir Eduardovich, brother Maxim, sister Nadia, wife Olena, daughters Anastasia, Valeria, Nikoletta, Maria, son Pavel, and grandson Nikita. Posthumously, the warrior was awarded the Order "For Courage" III degree.