"CHIP"

He was from Dokuchaievsk. After the city was occupied in 2014, he and his mother moved to Volnovakha. After moving to Volnovakha, he immediately joined a volunteer center. At that time he was 15 years old; together with adults, he painted bridges and poles in the city in blue and yellow. In 2022, the family had to evacuate again. On January 18, 2023, he joined military unit A3057 of the Eastern Operational-Territorial Association of the National Guard of Ukraine “Azov.” …While carrying out a combat mission, Volodymyr, call sign “Chip,” and three brothers-in-arms came under enemy fire. The men sustained severe injuries. Chip survived, suffering only a concussion. He applied six tourniquets, bandaged all of his brothers-in-arms, and managed to pull them to a safe place. He also made contact and called for evacuation. Through these actions, he saved the lives of his comrades. Later, his platoon commander submitted him for an award for courage. During a combat mission on August 24, 2023, in Luhansk Oblast, Kreminna Raion, the city of Kreminna, on the territory of the Serebrianske Forestry, on captured enemy positions, he came under mortar fire. He sustained a fatal blast injury and was killed on the spot. Volodymyr Ponka was an unwavering patriot of his state throughout his life—brave, courageous, a true warrior, a reliable defender, devoted to his family and friends.