Yurii V. Martseniuk (Berkut)

Soldier Yuriy Martseniuk (call sign Berkut) was killed on October 29, 2023 near the village of Krynky, Kherson region, while performing a combat mission. He was forever 49 years old. Yuriy was born in the village of Derzhanivka, Vinnytsia region, in a large family of workers. From an early age, he helped his parents with everyday chores and cared for animals. He had a calm character. He loved to play football and ride a bicycle. Later, the family moved to the neighboring village of Kachanivka. There, Yuriy went to the 1st grade. He then enrolled at the Vinnytsia Higher Vocational School of Service. From November 1992, he served in the military unit in Lutsk. After being demobilized in 1994, Yuriy dedicated his life to his beloved work. He professionally engaged in painting work and later became the production manager at an enterprise in Vinnytsia. In the first days of the full-scale war, together with his family, he helped people arriving in Vinnytsia from the temporarily occupied territories. He collected things, clothes, food and delivered them to those in need. Later, the man joined the ranks of the defenders. He held the position of a machine gunner in the security unit. He gained authority among his comrades in the team. He always approached the performance of official duties responsibly. He was praised for his initiative and creative approach to solving military issues. Later, Yuriy voluntarily went on a business trip to the consolidated rifle brigade of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Among his own, he was nicknamed Berkut, comparing him to an incredibly fast and agile bird. From there, the man with his unit set off to the front lines of the state's defense. "From the first days of acquaintance, Yuriy impressed me with his kindness, honesty and justice with which he treated the world around him. He loved to joke, he was always so cheerful... I gained spiritual harmony and confidence in the man when I saw his attitude towards children. At the time of our acquaintance, he already had two children: daughter Olechka and son Sashko, and I had daughter Tanyusha and son Andriy. My children loved him very much and affectionately called him 'daddy'," said his beloved wife Alla. "I had never met such simple guys like Yuriy Vyacheslavovich before. Initiative in any business, a creative approach and an unwavering smile on his face, despite everything... And how he loved to cook... The guys only talked about the fact that with such a fighter you will definitely not get lost," recalled his soldier, commander Rostyslav.The warrior was buried on the Alley of Glory of the Sabarivske cemetery in Vinnytsia. The defender left behind a wife, four children, mother, two brothers and a sister. Yuriy was posthumously awarded the Order of Courage of the III degree.