Soldier Volodymyr Shenkarenko died on November 2, 2024, during a combat mission near the village of Antonivka in the Pokrovsky district. The defender was 23 years old.
Volodymyr was born in the village of Dmytrivka and lived in the village of Ocheretine. He graduated from a local school and worked as a tractor driver in peacetime. He dreamed of a house and a large plot of land and wanted to have his own business. He loved loud companies, adrenaline, relaxing in nature, and fishing.
During the full-scale Russian invasion in December 2022, he joined the army and stood up to defend his homeland from the Russian occupiers. Volodymyr fought in the ranks of the 79th Separate Airborne Assault Brigade. He held the position of senior gunner-operator of the anti-tank missile system. Together with his brothers-in-arms, he defended his native Donetsk region, in particular the Maryinka direction.
For his distinguished service, Volodymyr was awarded the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine's “Golden Cross” distinction and, posthumously, the Order “For Courage” III degree.
"Vova loved to work, he never shied away from any job. He always helped his parents and friends. He was most attracted to working in the fields, so he got his tractor license and went to work in this field. He wanted a family, children, his own house, a car, to go skydiving. He had many desires, many things he didn't have time to do... I am proud that my brother went to defend our home so that I could live in my native Donbas. I am proud that he is a hero," said the soldier's sister Olena.
The paratrooper was buried in the village of Ocheretine.
He is survived by his mother, stepfather, and two sisters.
At 9:00 a.m., there will be a nationwide minute of silence. The Donetsk Regional State Administration and the Heroes Memorial platform will commemorate the fallen defenders from Donetsk Oblast.