Valentin “Abu” Demyanenko is a fan of the football club “Dynamo” (Kyiv), a representative of the movement “White Boys Club”.
Valentin Alexandrovich Demyanenko was born on February 2, 2001 in the city of Kiev. He studied at school No. 185 to 8th grade, then at Kyiv Technical Lyceum and National University “Kyiv-Mohyla Academy”, where he received his economic education. The greatest childhood hobbies were folk dances. He performed a lot with his group, went to various competitions. Over time, the dance was replaced by a gym, as well as boxing and wrestling, which he was engaged in in the Cossack House. Later he was engaged in MMA in the club “KRBK”.
The fan sector of Dynamo Kyiv began to visit in 2015. Valentine really wanted to go on his first trip by bus, as his older friends from the traffic did. The father recalls that at the time his son was less than 16 years old, and he offered to go together. So for his first away match against the Odessa “Chernomorets”, Valentin went with his father, for whom it was also the first such train. Both of them received unforgettable emotions and impressions from the atmosphere of the trip.
Over time, Valentine plunged into the fan movement and already attended outings with friends. He was attracted by the football movement, he succeeded a lot in training. One of the friends recalls: ““Abu” liked to double. His eyes burned when we all gathered at training and exulted, gaining new knowledge. More often he liked to fight, it worked out well for him. He was always smiling and with a cola, which he always went to Mac after training at the Cossack House. Few people from our circle saw him sad. He was a fun guy who loved life.”
Starting to engage in mixed martial arts, Valentin was very proud of the fact that he was engaged with the guys in the hall “KRBK” at Pavel, who is known by a large number of metropolitan fans.
In parallel with his studies and sports hobbies, Valentine worked in various jobs, including as a lifeguard and baker. According to the memories of his relatives, working as a rescuer, he felt in his place. There were many stories when someone drowned in the Dnieper, and Valentine pumped these people away. Sometimes it was very difficult, because not everyone is able to work in such a job.
Here is just one of the memories of his close friend, about working in the “Beach Patrol”: - “Valentine came there in 2020, showing the best result in physical training at selection. He was interested in medicine, in particular cardiopulmonary resuscitation. One summer day, after the shift was over, he had already gathered and waited for the boys to go home. At that time, it was reported on the radio that they got the person out of the water and it was necessary to do CPR. Valentin immediately ran to the aid of the guys with a defibrillator and began to work. He often dived in search of people even in the dark, sometimes in forbidden places. There was plenty to risk if there was the slightest chance of saving someone's life.”
Working as a baker was also not just a place of income for him. He treated bread as something bigger. I collected photos of products and was proud of my work.
In June 2022, he was supposed to receive a university diploma in management, but in February he took academic leave to study in order to protect his native land. Even before the full-scale war, having taken courses in tactical medicine in the NGO Centuria, like many football fans, “Abu” joined the ranks of the capital unit, on the basis of which the 3rd OSHBR would later be formed. The combat medic of the reconnaissance platoon of the 2nd Mechanized Battalion courageously performed the assigned tasks and saved the lives of wounded comrades.
Valentine was very fond of medicine, constantly improving his skills. His lover recalls that while talking to her on the phone, he was often approached by other fighters and asked to check their first-aid kits. Everyone knew that he would always meticulously check everything and would not refuse anyone. Valeria tells how one day, during a walk in Kiev, she badly injured her leg. Valentine and here I led myself as a professional doctor. After asking his beloved to wait a bit, he returned from the pharmacy with a full set of medications, treated the wound and applied a bandage. He was very responsible for the slightest injuries.
During the full-scale war, he told many stories to loved ones, but never showed his fear of trials. Even when his unit went to Donetsk region, Valentin always talked with a smile about his adventures for the day. He recorded a message from the corridor to his beloved video, and when asked why he was standing there, he answered: - “Yes, here we have birds flying, a little loud, but everything is fine, everything is on a high.” Then there was an understanding that he really felt good around his brothers.
But friends knew that Abu had repeatedly been in difficult situations. As during his work as a lifeguard before a full-scale invasion, in the war he was also forced to take risks, often being under enemy fire. But he always treated everything calmly and continued to work. Valentin Demyanenko died on January 23, 2023 as a result of enemy shelling near the city of Bakhmut (Donetsk region). He was buried in the village of Kotsyubinske near Kiev.
- “The hellish war continues to take the lives of the best sons of Ukraine. Dynamo fan, brave warrior and loyal friend who could always come to the rescue” - this is how friends from the fan sectors remember his teammate.
