Volodymyr M. Haponiuk (Hapon)

39-year-old soldier Volodymyr Haponiuk (call sign Hahon) was killed on February 5, 2023 near the village of Vremivka in the Donetsk region. While carrying out a combat mission, the warrior along with four comrades-in-arms held back the enemy for a long time, but the forces were unequal, the positions of the Ukrainian defenders were attacked with tank weapons, after which close combat began. The enemy retreated, but during the retreat they blew up the position, which caused the detonation of the ammunition. For 14 months, the defender was considered missing, until DNA matching with the remains found at the position was received. Volodymyr was born in Dnipro. After finishing school, he received an education as a design engineer. In civilian life, he had his own enterprise "Haponiuk" for the production of homemade smoked meat products. He was passionate about car manufacturing and car design. During the full-scale war, he defended the country as part of the 128th separate brigade of the territorial defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He held the position of a machine gunner in the anti-aircraft missile and artillery platoon of the fire support company. "Volodymyr had a good sense of humor, was an inventor, and participated in the 69th startup battle in Dnipro. Volodymyr dreamed of a large family, because he was born into a large family, but he had only one daughter Solomiia, whom he loved more than anything in the world," said the widow of the fallen Nataliia. The defender was buried at the Krasnopilskyi military cemetery in his hometown. Volodymyr is survived by his wife Nataliia, daughter Solomiia, and adopted daughter Veronika.