A large gathering of mourners memorialized a Ukrainian medic and a soldier who found love amidst the chaos of war, only to lose their lives together in a Russian artillery attack.
Valentyna Nahorna, affectionately known by her call sign Valkyrie, began her service as a volunteer medic shortly after the onset of the Ukraine conflict.
She and Daniil Liashkevych, referred to as Berserk, developed their romantic relationship just a few months before their tragic deaths, as shared by their fellow comrades and friends.
Both were part of the 3rd Assault Brigade and lost their lives on November 4.
Their memorial service took place on Friday at the crematorium in Kyiv, a stark and modern facility that frequently accommodates services for those who fell in the war.
Attendees recited a military chant, ingrained in the minds of Ukrainian soldiers during their initial training: “Burn with fire, life-giving, the weakness in my heart. Let me know no fear, nor doubt.”
Kostyl, another soldier who chose to be identified by his call sign, shared how Valkyrie’s presence had uplifted Berserk during a challenging chapter in his life.
“He finally found a soulmate who shared his passion for fighting and understood the war’s intensity, but this moment was their last together, and danger is ever-present,” Kostyl reflected.
Another fellow soldier, Dvyetshnik, who had a closer bond with the medic than with her soldier partner, portrayed her as courageous and eager to learn new skills.
“While Valkyrie displayed sincerity in her feelings, contributing a beautiful disorder, Berserk was the archetypal warrior,” he stated.
“Together, they formed an extraordinary partnership.”
