A mourning ceremony for the fallen warrior Lyubomyr Sochenko, son of the renowned artist Marina Sochenko, took place at St. Nicholas Church on Askold’s Grave. Hundreds of Kyiv residents, including veterans of the Russo-Ukrainian war, artists, and representatives of civic-patriotic organizations, came to bid farewell to the Hero.
This is reported by Kyiv24
The Warrior’s Combat Path and Personality
Lyubomyr Sochenko, call sign “Riki,” was killed in the Zaporizhzhia direction alongside a comrade while carrying out a combat mission. An enemy drone attacked the vehicle in which the Ukrainian soldiers were traveling just as they were advancing to a combat position. On the second day of the full-scale aggression by the Russian Federation, Lyubomyr joined the ranks of the defenders of Kyiv and later participated in battles on various fronts. For his courage and dedication to the state, the warrior was awarded numerous honors.
Lyubomyr is remembered as an intellectual and a modest person. He spoke several foreign languages, earned a higher education degree in radio physics, electronics, and computer systems from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, and continued his studies at the University of Lublin in Poland.
Commemoration and Symbolism of the Burial Site
The Hero was buried in a memorial area near the church, alongside the graves of the legendary commander Dmytro Kotsiubailo (“Da Vinci”) and pilot Andrii Pilshchykov (“Jus”). During the ceremony, mourning songs were performed by the People’s Artist of Ukraine, bandurist Taras Kompaniyets.
Next to the burials is a small military chapel. Here, at the request of the Greek Catholic community of St. Nicholas Church, Marina Sochenko created a large icon of the “Protection of the Mother of God,” dedicated to the Heroes who gave their lives for Ukraine. The fresco features 55 portraits, including the Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred, warriors of the liberation war, Heroes of Kruty, Sich Riflemen, commanders of the Ukrainian People’s Army, atamans, Ukrainian Cossacks, and Rus warriors.
“On the second day of the full-scale Russian aggression against Ukraine, Lyubomyr took up arms and stood to defend his native Kyiv, later destroying the enemy on various fronts. For his bravery and dedication to Ukraine, he was awarded many honors. He is said to have been an intellectual, modest, and fluent in several foreign languages.”
