Artem SOKHAN, Hero of Ukraine with the military nickname “Medic”, commander of the first company of the 130th battalion of the Territorial Defence Forces of the Solomianskyi district of Kyiv, holder of the Order “For Courage” of the III degree, met his love Inna Sokhan in 2018. He invited Inna SOKHAN, a doctor of economics, professor, and lecturer of Sumy National Agrarian University, to the mountains for their first date. Since then, the couple has never parted for a moment, and Artem has never left the military.
Artem SOKHAN was first mobilized in the summer of 2014 and assigned to a Special Forces unit of the 12th Battalion of the Special Forces in Kyiv. Since childhood, he was engaged in hunting, and he was also a doctor by profession, so his skills were valued in the army. Later, he served in the Luhansk region, where he was seriously wounded by Grad fragments. After his demobilization, Artem SOKHAN was one of the first in the capital to sign a three-year contract with the 112th Brigade of the Territorial Defence Forces in 2019. Every Saturday, the Hero trained because he knew for sure that Russia would not stop in Donbas. When the full-scale invasion began, he guarded Kyiv airport. In early March, he was in Irpin. After receiving his captain’s stripes in April 2022, he went to serve in the Kharkiv region.
He is remembered by his colleagues as a prudent and cautious commander. He always valued life, both his own and others’. His fellow soldiers recall how Artem gave orders to dig in according to all the rules of military art, because only in this way did his comrades have a chance to survive. Under the mentorship of the Hero, the most daring operations were carried out, which no other unit had ever undertaken. People in the battalion wanted to join the commander who was at the forefront of the assault, and they wanted to serve side by side with an experienced and wise military man.
He considered a falcon his totem animal. His wife Inna SOKHAN even ordered and sent him a chevron with the image of a bird, which Artem wore along with his brigade number.
Artem SOKHAN died in October 2022 while performing a combat mission in the Kharkiv sector. The memory of the soldier will live forever in the hearts of his family and friends, his comrades-in-arms. A mural depicting an angel with blue and yellow wings and Artem’s face was created on the wall of the family’s home as a reminder that our angels now wear only the uniform of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
“Pantheon of Heroes is a series of commemorative publications dedicated to the defenders from Kyiv by Vechirnii Kyiv editorial board.
The article about Artem SOKHAN was published in the issue of the newspaper #2 dated 29.12.2023.
In addition, you can read the story about the incredible spirit of the defender and his family at the link: https://vechirniy.kyiv.ua/news/81960/?fbclid=IwAR09_WFehG8w5fbT7ndllI4JMFu0B6Sh9X61kAoV0inQDppc7wB16eJyUbo_aem_AfLjVo1o7NZ0nQsaF8uMv7EcGur3xZShsryqr36O-MGqwZCVezZtGTN2qDv-9ixq-m0 .
The author of the text: Natalka MARKIV, “Vechirnii Kyiv”
The material for this article and photos were borrowed from the editorial office of the newspaper “Vechirnii Kyiv”.
