In life and death: The heroic story of Valkyrie and Berserk, fallen heroes of the Ukrainian frontline

She saved people from severe injuries in the most hellish conditions and critical situations.  But she could not be saved herself. The woman was 28 years old. As she wrote herself, she was waging her own personal war with death, for the lives of each of her comrades. 

Valentyna's beloved boyfriend, Danylo Liashkevych, with the call sign Berserk, was not saved either. He was killed by a Russian guided bomb. He had been fighting the occupying forces since 2014, defending Kyiv during the full-scale invasion. The couple was killed on November 1 as a result of a Russian bomb attack.

The medical service of the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade reported the death of the couple.

Valentyna Nahorna's story

Valentyna Nahorna joined the Ukrainian Armed Forces at the beginning of the full-scale war. She loved Donbas, adored cats, urged people to help the army, and hoped that eastern Ukraine would be freed from the occupiers forever. She was a Ukrainian powerlifting champion in her weight category.

“No matter what anyone says, Donbas has become a second home for me. The spoil heaps, fields, and nature are so incredible to me that I look at them every time and enjoy them like a little child. Every day I fall in love with this land more and more. And I hope that the East will be Ukrainian, without nits and orcs,” Valkyrie wrote.

In her posts, she urged people to become blood donors and wrote about her boundless love for her job. 

“Of course, it would be better if we didn't have it at all, but we @ab3.medservice are doing our best to fight death.”

For such dedication to medical work at the front, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarded Valentyna Nahorna the medal “For Saved Lives” in December last year.

Memories of Valkyrie

Valkyrie's comrades and sisters remember her in fond memories as a loving and courageous warrior who knew the value of life and death.

“In May 2022, in the south, you were convinced that you could not sleep when someone was snoring, but you slept perfectly well under the disgusting siren that was howling inside the room. You also slept to the snores. In basements, dugouts, rooms and pits. With all my skepticism about your lack of medical education, in 2022 you proved that you can and will. A biotechnologist and manicurist who knew the value of life and death like no other. You were in control of the barbell and the lives of people on the bar. A few days before I was transferred from the med unit, we were talking about the mortality rate of combat medics. And you jokingly told me that someday you might become one of them,” wrote Viktoria Kovach, head of the medical service of the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade.

Valentyna Nahorna provided medical care to a huge number of wounded, but she never bragged about it.

“You loved black in your clothes and light in people. You were extraordinary in everything - from the carpet in the hallway, which the cat was afraid of, to 'smell this cool perfume.' We talked about knives and human pain, revenge for the dead and human love. You read books and loved long eyelashes. You knew how to love and experience life - with theater in the capital on your free evening and studying at the medical academy.

You are one of the few people who have always supported me, despite your own difficulties, the wrong place and the wrong time. I am glad to have met you, to have worked with you and to have become friends. I am proud to have someone in my life who is an example of lightness, joy and sincerity, responsibility and courage. Valkyrie, you are a worthy person, you are a cool person, you are real. Your trace is in my heart,” wrote servicewoman Oksana Overchenko.

At the outbreak of the large-scale, Valentyna joined the Azov Training Center in Kyiv. She rescued the wounded as a member of medical evacuation crews and at the stabilization point of the Third Assault Brigade.

“Valkyrie was an example of dignity and strength. She always sought to improve her skills to help those in need even more effectively. Her path is an example for all of us - a path of courage, determination and constant forward movement. Her rank will inspire others to pave their own way. Valkyrie will forever remain a part of the 3rd Brigade Medical Service family,” the brigade wrote.

Danylo "Berserk" Liashkevych's story 

The death of Valentyna's boyfriend, Danylo Berserk Liashkevych, was a great loss for the Ukrainian Armed Forces and for his comrades. He experienced war since 2014. 

"Fought together, loved together, and now carried together on their shields… May your souls remain forever united. Eternally in formation! Valkyrie and Berserk," wrote volunteer Liliya Matvieieva.

Roman Trokhymets, a fellow member of the 3rd Assault Brigade, noted that Danylo was wounded many times, but returned to battle each time. 

“Neither shells nor bullets could overcome you. Only with a guided bomb launched from a warplane could destroy your physical body. I know that you were not afraid of death and took it with dignity, as a man and as a warrior. We met in the first days of the full-scale war. He had already had a lot of experience in combat since 2014. Between the battles for Kyiv, he taught everyone medicine. He taught it rigorously, uncensored, and with sophisticated humor. So that everyone understood how to save themselves and save others,” Trokhymets wrote.

He says that Berserk has saved many animals, having a surprisingly good heart and skillful veterinary skills. But Danylo is even more famous for saving people. 

“A warrior who saved many people, military and civilian, from the dead. Thanks to the knowledge you generously shared with everyone, I myself saved lives at the front and several times in the rear. When you were at the positions, everyone rejoiced because there was no fear, panic or numbness. Jokes, adventure, and military drive reigned supreme,” recalls Liashkevych's fellow soldier.

 Valentina's friend Dasha Kokhan wrote that when she learned about Berserk's death, she wrote her words of support, not knowing that the girl was also no longer alive.

“I wrote to you today when I learned about Berserk's death, not knowing that you had gone with him. And that my message would never be read. You were supposed to come to the gym. We were supposed to have coffee as a tradition. And when I suddenly saw you on a date, we hugged for 5 minutes while Berserk stood next to us and laughed at us. We hugged as tightly as if it was the last time. I'm going to miss you. I'm going to miss you so much. And I will tell everyone who Valkyrie is. But for me, you will always be Valiushka.

Valiushka, from a parallel class, a close person to our family who went to the gym, was a Ukrainian powerlifting champion in her weight class, and who adored cats to pieces. Now you are in better places. Both of you. Together,” the woman wrote.

Berserk about war

Olena Bilozerska, a soldier, volunteer and blogger, painted a portrait of the deceased couple. She also added that a few days before his death, Valkyria was transferred to a reconnaissance platoon as a combat medic. 

“To understand what kind of person Danylo Berserk was, it is worth reading his memoir about one of the battles near Avdiivka:

"Try to understand, you're in one of the most motivated units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, one that has endured what felt like the beating of the century during the Bakhmut campaign. Then comes the drumroll, and they tell you: 'We're heading to Avdiivka, guys.'

Those who weren't new to the war understood everything right away. Upon arriving at the location, as usually happens, we began gathering intel on the operational situation, and soon it was clear even to those who hadn’t yet opened their eyes. Moreover, we realized (I said, 'guys, Bakhmut 2.0, here we go!') that there was no time for chatter; we loaded our mags and moved out. Once we reached the point and set up Starlink, it became clear that the objectives were shifting by the second - no time to ponder. Attack, defend, retreat, advance - we could change positions three to four times in a single day.

So, here’s my point. I didn’t see a single fighter from my brigade with fear or disappointment on their face. The wounded were literally begging to be allowed to keep fighting, commanders grabbed their weapons and faced the enemy, and at some moments, it even felt like the fallen were still in the fight. I’m grateful to everyone who is and who was here - the fight goes on…"

Danylo has two children from previous marriages,” Bilozerska wrote.