Victor Pomohaiiev was killed on March 26, 2022, in Mariupol. The defender was forever 27 years old.
Victor was born on March 4, 1995, in the city of Kalmiuske. After finishing the 9th grade, he enrolled in the Donetsk Military Lyceum and later graduated from the National Academy of the National Guard of Ukraine. After graduation, he was assigned to serve in Mariupol, where he held the position of commander of a convoy company in military unit 3057.
“Vitya was my commander. There were conscripts and contract soldiers in the company, and among all of them there were only two women — me and my friend,” his fellow servicewoman Khrystyna recalled. “He was respected not for his rank, but for his humanity. The higher command also valued him highly. He always treated the personnel with respect, carried out his duties responsibly, and knew how to organize the service.
You could approach him with any issue — both service-related and personal. He never refused help and always tried to support others. Vitya was cheerful, sociable, and down-to-earth. Strict when necessary, as a commander should be. A family man, he always hurried home after service to his wife and son.
I have only warm memories of him. Even though he was our commander, we communicated openly and warmly, without excessive formality.”
Victor clearly separated military service from family life.
“At home he was a loving husband and father — gentle, sincere, and with a great sense of humor. He had many friends and loved repairing cars with them. Sadly, his closest friends also died in Mariupol. He was a bright person deeply missed by his family and loved ones,” said his wife, Marharyta.
For eight days, the “Khvylya” position remained a frontline defensive point of the Ukrainian forces. On March 26, 2022, after several failed assaults, Russian troops launched an airstrike on the command and observation post. One of the bombs hit a building in the central part of the complex. Fourteen soldiers were killed that day, including Captain Pomohaiiev.
The warrior was posthumously promoted to the rank of major.
The defender’s body has still not been recovered.
Victor is survived by his mother, wife, and son.
At 9:00 a.m. — the nationwide minute of silence. The Donetsk Regional Military Administration and the Memorial of Heroes platform honor the fallen defenders from Donetsk region.