Let’s bow our heads. Sum fan returned to defend Ukraine from abroad

Every day at 9 in the morning, Ukrainians honor the memory of people whose lives were taken by the Russian-Ukrainian war. Today, Sport.ua remembers the “Sum” fan Valery Kosharny, who during his school years was not without success in table tennis, but over time devoted himself to the army. Having received an appropriate education, Valery worked abroad for some time. Until a full-scale war broke out. After returning home to defend the Motherland, the soldier died at the age of 27 exactly three years ago, on December 1, 2022, in Donetsk region.

Track in sports Valery Kosharny was born on April 25, 1995 in Romny, Sumy Oblast, studied at the local school No. 1, after which he joined the Sumy Cadet Corps and received the rank of vice sergeant. Later, Valery entered the Ukrainian Academy of Banking at the Faculty of Economics and Finance, graduated with a master’s degree.

The boy’s main childhood and youth hobby was sports. As a teenager, he played table tennis, won prizes at regional competitions, and later actively engaged in martial arts.

Passion for football also came into Valery’s life as a child. Together with his friends, the boy visited the stadium named after Volodymyr Okipny in Romny, where he supported the local football club.

Kosharny first got into the “Sum” fan sector at the age of 18, even before studying in the cadet corps. Valery was an active participant in the football-related life of the movement, passionately supported the team at the stadium and defended the club colors outside it. In the fan environment, he had the nickname Cadet, which later became a call sign at the front.

Relatives and friends remember Valery as a very open and friendly person, hardworking and always with a kind smile.

Combat experience and death A full-scale invasion left Cadet stranded abroad. Having strong patriotic beliefs, on October 14, 2022, he returned from Poland to defend the Motherland. Kosharny served in military unit A4638 as a driver-mechanic, was a machine gunner of the 1st assault company of the 1st assault battalion of the 3rd separate assault brigade.

Valery Kosharny died on December 1, 2022 while performing a combat mission near the village of Kurdyumivka, Bakhmut District, Donetsk region, having managed to take wounded comrades from the battlefield.

The soldier was buried at the Loziv cemetery in his native Romny.