Valerii A. Ihnatiev (Balu)

Senior Sergeant Valeriy Ignatyev was killed on August 24, 2023 near the village of Katerynivka in the Donetsk region. While carrying out a combat mission, he received fatal injuries as a result of being hit by the enemy UAV "Lancet". On November 11, he would have turned 31 years old. Valeriy was born and lived in Kyiv. He studied at the Kyiv Energy College. In peacetime, he worked as a construction worker. He was passionate about cars. In 2015-2016, he participated in the ATO in the Donetsk region as part of the National Guard of Ukraine. On February 24, 2022, Valeriy again went to defend his country from the Russian invaders and joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He served in the ranks of the 72nd Separate Mechanized Brigade named after the Black Zaporozhians. He was the commander of a vehicle in the 2nd self-propelled artillery division. The fighter was awarded the Order of the President of Ukraine "For the Defense of Ukraine". "I am very grateful to fate for such a man. For these 7.5 wonderfully lived years. He was a wonderful lover, friend, brother, son, grandson. He was sensitive, kind, caring. He dreamed of his own home, children and a big dog. But it didn't happen... I know he loved me very much, and I hope he will be a strong guardian angel for me. We remember. We mourn. We love," wrote the defender's wife Yulia. Valeriy was buried at the Berkovetsky cemetery in the capital. He is survived by his mother, wife, other relatives, friends and comrades-in-arms.