Viktor A. Skorodenko (Makhno)

Main Sergeant Viktor Skorodenko (call sign Makhno) was killed on January 23, 2023 while performing a combat mission in the Soledar area in the Donetsk region. The hero was 54 years old forever. Viktor was born in the village of Velyka Bahachka, Poltava region. He graduated from school there. He entered the H.S. Skovoroda Kharkiv State Pedagogical Institute, Faculty of Physical Education. In 1987-1989 he served in the regular army. Since 1991, he has worked as a physical education teacher at his native Velykobahachanskaya school. He was a teacher of the highest qualification category, a senior teacher, the best coach of the children's and youth sports school, a multiple winner of the regional and prize-winner of the regional "Teacher of the Year" competition. Since 2004, Viktor has been working as a coach at the children's and youth sports school. His pupils were winners and prize-winners of regional competitions among sports schools of the children's and youth football league. In 2019, they took 1st place in regional competitions. When the full-scale war began, Viktor unhesitatingly took up arms to defend the Motherland, his family and his pupils. He served as part of the 116th separate brigade of the territorial defense, holding the position of senior sergeant of the rifle platoon of the rifle company. "My beloved was and remains the best of the best! Such a reliable, responsible and loving man is found once in a lifetime! I thank fate for the opportunity to be a happy woman next to him. I love him endlessly, I mourn him every day and learn to live anew in a world where I will never see him again. Sleep peacefully, my dear Vitinka, you are forever in my heart," wrote Svitlana Skorodenko. The defender was buried in his native village. Viktor left behind a wife, daughter and son. A memorial plaque in his honor has been installed on the facade of the school he graduated from and worked at for 32 years. It is engraved "Teacher, mentor, colleague. An honest, courageous, bright person who burned in the flame of the struggle for a free independent Ukraine, for the peaceful present of his students."