Vitalii P. Chernukha (Okhotnik)

Soldier Vitaliy Chernukha (call sign Okhotnik) was killed on August 9, 2023 near the village of Mala Tokmachka in the Zaporizhzhia region. While carrying out a combat mission, he came under enemy mortar fire. The defender was 34 years old. Vitaliy was born in the village of Pavoloch, Zhytomyr region. He graduated from the local secondary school of grades I-III. He worked at the Zhytomyr branch of LLC "Askona-Pivden". He was passionate about hunting. During the full-scale war, on March 6, 2023, the man was mobilized into the airborne assault troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He served in the 46th separate airmobile brigade. He held the position of a sniper rifleman. "Vitaliy was a man of great character, always responsible and kept his word. In any situation, he was ready to lend a helping hand to people in need. He remained faithful to the military oath and his native country until his last breath. Comrades-in-arms noted that he was a true warrior, a man of his word, a man of courage, an example of indomitability and strength of spirit. With superhuman resilience and courage, he, together with his comrades-in-arms, held their positions at the front, realizing that the responsibility for the future of the entire Ukrainian people rested on their shoulders," wrote the civilian wife of the fallen Kateryna Polonska. The paratrooper was buried in the village of Sokoliv Brid in the Zhytomyr region, where he lived. Vitaliy is survived by his mother, brother, two daughters, civilian wife, relatives, friends and comrades-in-arms.