Vitalii V. Panchokha (Dynamo)

Main Sergeant Vitaliy Panchokha (call sign Dynamo) was killed on March 24, 2023, in the territory of the Serebryansk forestry, in the Bakhmut region of Donetsk Oblast. He went on a combat mission and was killed by enemy fire. He was considered missing in action. Exactly a month later, on April 24, the defender would have turned 30 years old. Vitaliy was from Kyiv. He studied at secondary school No. 146. He then continued his studies at the Kyiv Technical Lyceum, which he graduated from with a silver medal. In 2010, he entered the Kyiv Polytechnic Institute. In 2013, he began service in the internal troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine and the National Guard of Ukraine, serving until 2018. He then worked as a system administrator at LLC "Hmara". He loved football and computer games. He supported the Ukrainian national team and the Dynamo Kyiv football club. He himself played amateur football and also received a referee's diploma. Even in the combat zone, he found the opportunity to watch matches. On February 24, 2022, the man stood up to defend his country from the Russian occupiers. He served as part of the 58th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade named after Hetman Ivan Vyhovsky. He was the commander of the anti-tank section of the anti-tank platoon of the fire support company of the 16th Separate Motorized Infantry Battalion. "Vitalik was not only the best brother, he was my support, friend, model of humanity, honesty and justice. He remains an example of indomitability and indestructibility of spirit. He knew that he had to stand for freedom, and he stood until the end," his sister Valentyna Pankova said. The warrior was buried on the Alley of Heroes of the Berkovetsky Cemetery in Kyiv. The defender left behind his parents, sister, and goddaughter. Vitaliy Panchokha was posthumously awarded the Order of Courage, 3rd degree.