Defending Ukraine from Russian invaders, former football player Roman Soroka was killed in Kharkiv region.
He was born on 16 August 1977 in the village of Voroniaky, Lviv Oblast. From a young age, he took up football and became a professional player, devoting most of his life to the sport. In 2000-2001, he played for “Niva” from Ternopil. At that time, the team played in the highest division of the Ukrainian championship. Roman played three official matches in the league, one of which was against “Dynamo” Kyiv. During that season, he played 15 matches for FC “Ternopil” in the Second League. Later he played for “Hoverla” and “Sokil” amateur clubs.
The war forced him to radically change his life and career. As Roman admitted in his interview, he returned from Germany, where he had been working, and joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine in March 2022. According to him, almost everyone in his family is military. He was the only one who did not serve in the army, but eventually he had to do it. Roman fought in a battalion that defended Kharkiv from the invaders. But, unfortunately, on 27 May 2024, 46-year-old Roman Soroka was killed in the border area of Kharkiv region while performing a combat mission… His son Stepan shared the sad news of the Ukrainian defender’s death. It is difficult to believe in the loss, to comprehend it and accept it. Roman could have done so much more for his family, country, and people, but the Russians deprived him of the most valuable thing – his life…