Volodymyr I. Sushchenko (Kit)

Master Sergeant Volodymyr Sushchenko (call sign Cat) was killed on June 8, 2023, in battle for the city of Bakhmut in the Donetsk region. The warrior's life was cut short by a bullet from an enemy sniper. The defender was forever 45 years old. Volodymyr was from the village of Nyzy in the Sumy region. He graduated from the Sumy National Agrarian University. In civilian life, he worked as a bus driver. In 2014, he participated in the Anti-Terrorist Operation in Donbas. With the start of the full-scale Russian invasion, the man took up arms again and stood to defend his native country from the enemy. Initially, he served in the A7321 unit of the Territorial Defense Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. However, he dreamed of fighting in the ranks of the "Azov" regiment, so he later transferred to the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade, where he held the position of a grenadier. In 2022, Volodymyr was awarded the "Shield of the Territorial Defense Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine," and in 2023, he received the "Honorable Distinction of the Joint Forces Operation Sumy." "My father, Volodymyr Ivanovych Sushchenko, was a courageous warrior, a true patriot of his country. He loved his country and above all dreamed that we would live in a free and independent Ukraine, that the children of Ukraine would not know war and would be calm about their future. He is an example of a brave warrior, a strong and freedom-loving person for me. He will forever remain in my heart and be an example to follow. Volodymyr Ivanovych always said: 'If there were more like me, we would accelerate our victory.' He did everything for this, and most importantly, he gave his life for the future. For our future without the Russians! We live at the cost of his life and the lives of all the Heroes of Ukraine! They must be remembered forever!" - wrote the deceased's son, Serhii. The defender was buried in the village of Byshkin in the Sumy region. Volodymyr is survived by his mother, wife, son, brothers, sisters, relatives, friends, and comrades-in-arms.