From a ship's boatswain to an artilleryman: Mykolaiv resident Viktor Minakov is being asked to be recognized as a Hero of Ukraine

On the President of Ukraine’s website a petition was registered to posthumously award the title Hero of Ukraine to a Mykolaiv native, soldier and artilleryman Viktor Hennadiyovych Minakov of the 77th Separate Airmobile Brigade with the call sign “Botsman”.

Petition No.22/267624-ep was published on 21 July 2026. Its initiator was the wife of the fallen defender, Mariya Pavlivna Minakova. To have the petition considered by the President of Ukraine, 25,000 signatures must be collected. The collection of votes is ongoing.

Left the sea to defend Ukraine

Viktor Hennadiyovych Minakov was born on 12 September 1990 and was from Mykolaiv. Before the start of the full-scale Russian invasion he worked at sea as a boatswain. That is why during his service he received the call sign “Botsman”.

Viktor Minakov joined the defense of Ukraine on 7 November 2022. When enlisting for military service, he did not inform his parents and relatives about his decision. His family was convinced that he had gone on another sea voyage. According to his wife, he tried to protect his loved ones and did not want to alarm them with the news of his service in the army.

The combat path of the Mykolaiv native began in military unit A4355 as part of the 77th Separate Airmobile Brigade. The soldier served as an artilleryman and took direct part in heavy battles for the Donetsk and Kharkiv regions.

Since spring 2023, Viktor Minakov carried out combat missions on the Bakhmut, Toretsk and Sloviansk directions. He also defended the Izium district and Chasiv Yar. The petition notes that during his service the serviceman demonstrated courage, resilience, professionalism and devotion to the Ukrainian people while performing extremely difficult tasks.

A Russian FPV drone took the defender’s life

On 13 May 2026 Viktor Hennadiyovych Minakov was killed while carrying out a combat mission in the village of Novoplatonivka in the Izium district of Kharkiv region. The life of the Ukrainian serviceman was ended by the strike of a Russian FPV drone.

The defender was 35 years old. He is survived by his wife, parents, relatives, friends and comrades-in-arms.

The serviceman’s wife, Mariya Pavlivna Minakova, said that due to his service and constant separations the couple had almost no opportunity to live an ordinary family life. They were together for three years, however the war never allowed them to share a peaceful civilian household at home.

In her appeal the wife of the fallen defender explained why she believes his feat should be recognized with the highest state award.

“For me he will always remain a person with a capital letter — my support, incredibly kind, sensitive and caring. Due to constant separations caused by service, our life was always on the edge. The war took away the most valuable thing: although we were together for three years, we never had the chance to share a normal civilian household at home. He has already become a true hero for friends, family, loved ones and his native Mykolaiv. However, the warrior also deserves the highest award, and awarding it is the least the state can do.”

You can support the petition to posthumously award Viktor Hennadiyovych Minakov the title Hero of Ukraine on the official website of electronic petitions of the President of Ukraine. To vote you must log in.

Earlier we wrote:

• Ex-commander of the 155th brigade is being sought on suspicion of murdering two brothers: details of the kidnapping
• “Malysh” — a giant of spirit: Vitaliy Danich gave his life for Ukraine
• They ask the President to award the title Hero of Ukraine to the fallen defender who defended the Korabelny district
• They ask the President to award the title of Hero to the fallen warrior from Korabelny, Denys Sereda
• A petition has been created for the title of Hero for Oleksandr Yantsen from the Korabelny district