Volodymyr V. Stepaniuk (Step)

Marine infantryman Volodymyr Stepaniuk (call sign Step) was killed on January 20, 2023, in the area of the village of Vodiane in the Donetsk region. When he was driving to rescue wounded comrades, he came under enemy fire. As a result of the explosion of a shell, he received fatal shrapnel wounds. The warrior was 38 years old. Volodymyr was born in the village of Rzhyshchiv, Volyn region. He studied at the Horokhiv Driving School and the Novovolynsk Vocational School. By profession, he was an underground coal industry worker. For 10 years, he worked at mine No. 1 in Novovolynsk. He loved nature, fishing, and quiet hunting. At the time of the full-scale invasion, Volodymyr was working abroad in construction. However, he decided to return, left everything, and went voluntarily to defend Ukraine from the enemy. He joined the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He held the position of driver in the 36th separate brigade of the marine corps. His wife Maria and sister Oksana describe Volodymyr as a true patriot, honest, fair, positive, sociable, and strong-willed. He was compassionate and desperate, always took on assigned tasks, and helped others. Volodymyr was buried in his native village. He is survived by his mother, sisters, wife, and son.