Volodymyr I. Serheiev (Smail, Kaban)

Volodymyr was born into a family of doctors, graduated from Obukhiv General Education School-Lyceum No. 3, and in 2008 entered the National Aviation University, but a year later decided to leave his studies and serve in the military. Until October 2011, he served in the air defense missile troops of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, stationed in Odesa, then lived in his hometown, working as a loader and cardboard grinder at the Kyiv cardboard and paper mill. On August 17, 2015, together with 17 fellow townsmen from Obukhiv, he was called up for military service by mobilization, and after training at the training ground, he took the position of sniper in the 122nd separate airborne battalion, later being appointed as a squad commander. In phone conversations with his relatives, Volodymyr did not mention where he was to avoid worrying his already anxious mother. Later, videos appeared on the internet showing Volodymyr holding combat positions with his comrades and engaging in a firefight with enemy forces. The videos show what a brave young man he was, how he wanted to protect all of us, not to let the enemy advance further… In the war, he was called Kabaan, but in his hometown, his nickname was Smile, because he had a kind smile and was a good person… On July 6, 2016, around 1:00 PM, during an enemy shelling in the industrial zone of Avdiivka, a 120-mm mortar shell hit the observation post where Volodymyr Serheiev was with a comrade. The comrade died on the spot, and Volodymyr died in the hospital from his injuries. On July 8, the community of Obukhiv bid farewell to Volodymyr on his final journey.