World War II Veteran Viktor Khomenko, Defender of Leningrad, Dies
At the age of 108, World War II veteran Viktor Khomenko, who participated in the defense of Leningrad, has died. His death was announced by the Russian Embassy in Canada.
Feb 15, 2026 0
The Russian Embassy in Canada announced the veteran«s death through its Telegram channel.
Source:
On Monday, January 26, the Russian diplomatic mission in Canada announced the death of Viktor Khomenko.
The veteran joined the country«s defense from the very beginning of the Great Patriotic War and was among those defending Leningrad.
In peacetime, he was actively engaged in public and educational work, passing on the truth about the war to young people and remaining an example of modesty, dignity, and inner strength. He was an active participant in the Canadian Association of World War II Veterans from the USSR.
Viktor Ulyanovich Khomenko was born in 1917.
After graduating from the Leningrad Medical School, he worked as a paramedic in the Arctic for five years, sailed on the icebreaker Yermak, and wintered twice at polar stations.
The Kirov District Military Commissariat of Leningrad called him to the front on July 13, 1941. Khomenko voluntarily joined the Vyborg Rifle Division of the People«s Militia, and later served in several units, including the 50th Guards Separate Anti-Tank Artillery Battalion, the 129th Guards Rifle Regiment of the 45th Guards Rifle Division, the 329th Rifle Regiment, the 30th Guards Rifle Division, and the 3rd Guards Rifle Regiment.
His combat path went through key and most difficult sectors of the Leningrad Front: Krasny Bor, Sinyavino, Pulkovo, and Narva.
In January 1943, at the Nevsky Pyatachok during the breakthrough of the blockade, the commander of the medical platoon, Guards Lieutenant of the Medical Service, was seriously wounded while saving an officer. According to the veteran, two fragments remained in his body forever.
For demonstrated courage and faithful service, Viktor Khomenko was awarded two Orders of the Red Star, the Order of the Patriotic War 1st Class, two medals «For Courage,» as well as medals «For Combat Service,» «For the Defense of Leningrad,» and «For the Victory over Germany.»
After the war, he worked as a doctor in Leningrad.
Since 2002, the veteran lived in Toronto, Canada, where he actively participated in commemorative events and helped preserve the historical memory of the feat of the front-line generation.
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