This page contains spoilers to the game's final plot. It is advised you skip this section or page if you haven't completed the game yet!
Yevhen Martynenko (Ukrainian: Євген Мартиненко), also known as Skif (Ukrainian: Скіф), is the protagonist of S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of Chornobyl.
Background[]
Skif is 25 years old during the events of Heart of Chornobyl, which means he was born in 1996.[note. 1] He served in the Ukrainian Marine Corps[note. 2][note. 3] and was deployed, although it's unknown where or for how long. After leaving the military, he worked trading dummy (spent) artifacts and working various "risky" part-time jobs, otherwise wasting time in front of the TV. He has no family or friends to speak of.[note. 4]
Skif seems to have a robust knowledge of firearms. He can be seen expertly re-assembling an AK-74,[note. 5] likely replicating a drill from his time in the army. He is able to operate any weapon found in the zone with an expertise and confidence that suggests a familiarity with a variety of weapon systems. He shows a particular fondness for his PTM, using it almost exclusively in cutscenes, as it was his service pistol from his time in the military.[note. 3]
In 2021, Skif is awoken at night to find that an unknown object has crashed into his kitchen, destroying it and setting his apartment ablaze. Skif finds the object that crashed through his roof and discovers it to be an artifact. Despite growing up with stories about The Zone and the horrors within, he feels as though it reached out to him and that it now owes him a new home.
Skif then makes contact with Dr. Hermann who expresses interest in Skif's unknown artifact. Dr. Hermann agrees to smuggle Skif into The Zone in an effort to recharge the artifact.
Things do not go according to plan and the duo are caught in an emission just on the outskirts of The Zone. This destroys a section of wall and attracts the IPSF to the location. After a brief argument about how to proceed, Skif takes Hermann's scanner and climbs their truck and hops the wall.
Led via Radio, Skif infiltrates The Zone and heads for a nearby scientist bunker while avoiding patrols, anomalies, radiation and a Flesh. Skif eventually finds his way into the bunker before discovering its inhabitants dead. Using a radio inside to contact Solder, a technician inside The Zone who sold Hermann and Skif coordinates for their scanner, Skif explains the situation. Solder explains how to use the scanner but seems to be generally uncooperative. Skif collects the coordinates from a laptop as well as a scanner and uses it to locate an artifact to protect him from radiation.
After a brief duel with a bloodsuscker, Skif starts using the scanner to attempt to recharge his unknown artifact. The first two coordinates turn out to be duds. With Skif attracting a lot of attention, Hermann pleads for Skif to return which Skif refutes as he has nowhere to return to. The final set of coordinates proves more fruitful, recharging the artifact. Before Skif can retrieve it, a squad of Wardens arrive on scene. Hiding, Skif prepares to ambush the soldiers but is interrupted by an unknown sniper. Using the smoke grenade of a dead Warden, Skif grabs the scanner and makes a run for it.
During his escape, a frantic Hermann reveals that Solder sold them out and the area is swarming with soldiers. Skif is clotheslined as he runs past a tree. An unknown group takes his scanner and gear. However, a Stalker later revealed to be Nimble, spares Skiff and knocks him out.
Awakening the next morning to a blind dog trying to drag him away, Skif kicks the dog away, revealing that they are in a field of gravity anomalies. Suddenly, a Stalker reveals himself and throws Skif a bolt to navigate his way out. Meeting up with the Stalker he introduces himself as Richter. The two converse and Richter suggests heading to Zalyssia, a rookie Stalker village to re-gear and take in local news.
Notes[]
- ↑ Official information; STALKER 2 takes place a decade after the events of Shadow of Chernobyl, although Skif's calendar during the initial cutscene shows year 2021.
- ↑ The in-game knife he uses has the logo of UMC.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 From the description of Skif's Pistol.
- ↑ Dialogue with Agatha during Wishful Thinking.
- ↑ During the initial meeting with Korshunov
Trivia[]
- Skif's name most likely comes from the Ukrainian word for "Scyth" or, a member of the Scythian nomads [1]. Figuratively, "Scyth" means a wild or unruly person.
- Skif pronounces certain words with an accent not seen among other characters in the zone (MASS-TEEF instead of MASS-TIFF when referencing the stalker "Mastiff"). It's unknown if this is canon to the character or a quirk of the english voice actor.