Viktor O. Holovko (Dik)

Senior Lieutenant Viktor Holovko (call sign Dick) was killed on March 12, 2022, during the defense of the Kyiv region from Russian invaders. In a battle with the enemy in the area of the village of Huta-Mezhyhirska, he covered his comrade and was wounded. Despite the pain, he managed to drag his comrade to the evacuation vehicle. But in a moment, the enemy hit the vehicle with a hand-held anti-tank grenade launcher. Viktor and two other soldiers were killed. The officer was forever 37 years old. Viktor was born in Kherson. When he was 2 years old, he moved to Dubrovytsia in the Rivne region with his parents and older brother. He studied at a school there. Then he graduated from the National Academy of Internal Affairs with a degree in Jurisprudence and obtained a law degree. He served in the military for almost 20 years, the last 9 of which were in the separate special forces unit "Omega" of the National Guard of Ukraine. He loved football, supported FC Dynamo (Kyiv), and also enjoyed fishing. He spent his free time with his family. He loved to cook and play football with his son. The family lived near the forest, and Viktor loved to pick mushrooms there. When the full-scale invasion began, the officer defended Kyiv. He was the commander of a group of the separate special forces unit "Omega". The National Guard reported that at first, the unit under the command of Viktor Holovko carried out tasks to defend the "Kyiv" airport in order not to allow the enemy's sabotage groups to create a bridgehead for the landing of the enemy airborne troops. Then the group of Viktor, together with several others, was transferred to the Vyshhorod district. In the neighboring settlements and the surrounding forests, they tracked down the enemy's sabotage and reconnaissance groups. "Now Vitya serves in the heavenly army. He has become an Angel who holds the sky," his wife Kateryna said. Viktor was buried in Dubrovytsia. He is survived by his mother Lidiia Artemivna, wife Kateryna, 7-year-old son Davyd, and 6-month-old daughter Milana. By the Decree of the President of Ukraine, Senior Lieutenant Viktor Holovko was awarded the title of "Hero of Ukraine" with the award of the Order of the "Golden Star" (posthumously). In 2022, Artemenko Street in Dubrovytsia was renamed in honor of Viktor Holovko.