Valery Sergeyevich Markus is a Ukrainian soldier, writer, and traveler, and a former master sergeant of the 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade “Magura.”
Place of Birth, Education
He was born on July 14, 1993, in Pervomaisk, Mykolaiv Oblast. As a child, he played boxing and soccer.
When he was 15, he decided he wanted to serve in the airborne troops. After turning 18, without waiting for his draft notice, he went to the military registration and enlistment office.
Career
In September 2011, he began his service in the 25th Airborne Assault Brigade (DShV).
On March 8, 2014, he received his first combat order and was sent to the front in the Slovyansk area.
While serving in the ATO, Marcus kept a video blog: he posted videos from the front lines showing the liberation of Vuhlehirsk and Debaltseve, the aftermath of battles, shelling, and everyday life in the army.
In 2016, the soldier was hospitalized. After receiving treatment, he was discharged from the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU).
Travel
In 2017, Marcus walked from Paris to Cape Finisterre, traveling through France and Spain along the Way of St. James—El Camino de Santiago.
The route ran through the city of Sant, along the Atlantic Ocean through the Land de Gascogne Nature Reserve, and then through Spain along the Cantabrian Mountains. After crossing the mountains, he visited Santiago de Compostela and headed west to Cape Finisterre, where he raised a Ukrainian flag signed on Independence Square.
The total length of the route was about 2,000 kilometers.
In May 2019, he set out on yet another hiking trip through the countries of Scandinavia. On the 24th, he flew to Oslo and from there set off on foot toward the north to reach the Arctic Ocean.
The trip lasted from May to October 2019 and took them through Norway, Sweden, and Finland. Thetotal length of the route was about 3,500 kilometers.
After his trip, he began work on the film *A Free Man: Horizon*. Production was halted after the full-scale invasion began, and all the funds raised were used to purchase military equipment for his unit.
Marcus has also conquered 2 of the 7 “Peaks of the World”: in 2019, he climbed Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest peak, and in January 2022, he climbed Aconcagua, South America’s highest mountain.
An expedition to Mount Everest was also planned for May 2022, but when the Russian Federation (RF) launched a full-scale invasion, he immediately joined the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Book
In 2015, while the war was still ongoing, Marcus began writing a book, which he completed in early February 2018. Preparations for publication began at that time. Unable to reach an agreement with Ukrainian publishers, he self-published the book with the support of friends.
On August 13, the book went on sale and became a bestseller—the entire print run of 5,000 copies sold out in the first three weeks. In September 2018, Marcus began his nationwide tour.
Full-scale war
After the start of the full-scale invasion by Russian troops , Markus rejoined the ranks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces as part of the 30th Brigade. During the first few months, he fought in a reconnaissance unit, specifically in the area around the town of Troitske.
In April 2022, he and Captain Ivan Shalamaga were asked to form and lead the 47th Separate Rifle Battalion. From October to November, the unit underwent reorganization and became the 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade. In the brigade, Markus held the rank of master sergeant in the 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade “Magura.”
In mid-June 2023, he took part in counteroffensive operations in the Zaporizhzhia region.
That same year, he posted a photo of his report on his Telegram channel and announced that he was stepping down from his position as chief sergeant of the military unit and transferring to the position of combat vehicle commander—commander of a mechanized squad. He also expressed his disagreement with decisions regarding the deployment and development of the brigade.
On December 11, 2024, Marcus posted a series of videos on his YouTube channel in which he discussed internal conflicts and problems within the brigade’s leadership.
Charitable Foundation
Marcus is a military ideologist and co-founder of the Markus Foundation, a charitable organization. The foundation’s mission is to provide material and technical support to the “Magura” brigade, organize training exercises, and create support programs for the families of fallen soldiers and assistance programs for wounded comrades.
Personal Life
In October 2025, it was reported that Marcus had gotten married, but he did not reveal his bride’s name.
