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Dedicated to the Day of the Ukrainian volunteer

According to a long-standing tradition, on March 14 the Museum honors volunteers - the living, who are among us, and the fallen, who gave the most for the freedom of Ukraine. A memorial meeting for Captain Artem Sokhan took place today. In March 2014, he was one of the first to join the ranks of voluntary military units. He received his first combat experience and a serious injury in a zone where the anti-terrorist operation was carried out. At the beginning of 2022, Artem was ready for a full-scale Russian invasion and served in one of the units of the Territorial Defense Forces of the city of Kyiv, constantly improving his combat skills.

Together with his comrades, he defended the capital, liberated the cities of Irpin, Bucha, and Kharkiv region. Captain Sokhan’s life ended on October 5, 2022.

His wife, parents, comrades from the 12th and 130th battalions of the Military Police, Kyiv City Council deputy Yuriy Tikhonovych and students of the National Medical University named after O. Bohomolets – Artem’s alma mater, came to honor the Hero’s memory at the Museum.

Everyone remembered the soldier as a brave warrior, a good mentor, a just and caring commander, the best son, husband, father, a true patriot who gave up a successful career to save the country from the invader.

Comrade Denys Semirog-Orlyk shared his memories of the extremely difficult Irpin operation. He said that it was Artem and the fighters trained by him that became the core of their squad. Thanks to many years of training and the extraordinary decisions of Captain Sokhan, they managed to overcome the invaders.

Gennadiy Kovalenko, head of the NGO "Union of Veterans of the ATO/OOS of the Solomyansky District", also chose special words. He looked at the joint photo and remembered Artem as a commander who always tried to get the best equipment for his fighters, did not leave anyone behind, sometimes neglecting his own infrequent moments of rest.

The hero died, but we will preserve his memory. Artem Sokhan’s family donated the soldier’s personal belongings to our collection, which will surely occupy a prominent place in the future projects of the Museum.