Viktor O. Kuzmenko (Panda)

Senior soldier Viktor Kuzmenko (call sign Panda) was killed on July 7, 2023 near the village of Shakhtarske in the Donetsk region. While carrying out a combat mission, he came under enemy artillery fire and received fatal injuries. The defender was forever 38 years old. Viktor was born in the village of Rykhalske, Zhytomyr region. He received secondary education. He was married and lived with his family in Kyiv. He worked as a design engineer at the construction company "UKRFASADMONTAZH". He was passionate about cars and motorcycles. During the full-scale war, the man joined the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to defend his native lands from the occupiers. He served in the 26th separate rifle battalion. He was a machine gunner. During his service, he was awarded the "Steel Cross" distinction of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. "I would have hugged you tighter if I had known it was the last time. Forever in my heart," wrote the wife of the fallen Lyudmyla. The warrior was buried at the Forest Cemetery in Kyiv. At home, Viktor was awaited by his wife and two children.