A young man whose future was forged in the sports halls of Mariupol. At just 17, he had already earned a reputation as a promising athlete — a graduate of the local youth sports school and a talented WAKO kickboxer. His perseverance brought him national recognition: Venedykt became a bronze medalist at the Ukrainian Championship among children, youth, and juniors. For him, sport was not merely a passion, but a clear path that promised great achievements.
Yet all his dreams and sporting ambitions were shattered in an instant. On March 12, 2022, at 4:12 a.m., Russian missiles struck a residential building on Troitska Street. The Vasylkov family lived on the ninth floor. The boy’s father, Oleksandr, was killed on the spot, along with nine other residents of the building.
Venedykt, who sustained severe injuries, was pulled from the rubble by neighbors and taken to the hospital. For a week, he fought for his life but never regained consciousness. On March 19, 2022, the heart of the young athlete stopped.
He will forever be remembered as a gifted child with an unbreakable spirit—a спортсмен destined to conquer international podiums, but instead taken by Russian terror.
May his memory be eternal.