Andrii O. Herasymenko (Maiak)

Soldier Andrii Herasymenko (call sign Mayak) was killed on November 13, 2023, near the settlement of Dibrova in Luhansk region. The warrior suffered fatal injuries in a battle with an enemy sabotage group. Andrii was 40 years old. He was a native of Kyiv, and spent his childhood and youth in the city of Bershad in Vinnytsia region. In adulthood, Andrii returned to Kyiv and enrolled at the Kyiv National Economic University named after Vadym Hetman. He worked as a customs broker at the company "Kyiv-Brok". He loved to travel and spend time in nature. In 2014, Andrii participated in the Revolution of Dignity. During the full-scale invasion, he joined the 112th separate brigade of the territorial defense. He held the position of a rifleman-sniper in the 2nd mechanized platoon of the mechanized company. He was wounded, but after treatment, he returned to the front line. He was awarded the medal "For Military Service to Ukraine" and the badge "Veteran of War". "He was not like everyone else, he was not afraid to be different," said most of those who knew Andrii. Smiling, positive, cheerful. At the forefront, where all the trees were burned and scorched, he found the one and only green leaf. No one else noticed it... But Andrii saw it. Every flower, every blade of grass, every "ray of light" in a person. Andrii loved to travel and visited various countries. He was deeply interested in the topic of his own spiritual development, considering it not as a result, but as a path, step by step, towards a better self, multiplying his spiritual qualities and a sense of harmony with the world. Andrii had a very wide circle of communication in various spiritual and religious movements - from esoteric circles, astrologers, Hare Krishnas, Muslims to Orthodox, Catholic, and Greek Catholic churches. He repeatedly practiced various ascetic practices, was a novice in a monastery, and twice traveled with monks to Mount Athos. Andrii was extremely sociable and an interesting storyteller. He loved life and knew how to enjoy it, even in the smallest things. If Andrii's life could be made into a book, it would be called "The Hero's Journey". And the hero himself - open to adventures, adventures, discoveries. Curious, kind, cheerful, brave, endowed with great creative potential. Andrii had an active life position, always being a patriot. He participated in the Revolution of Dignity. Andrii went to the military enlistment office on February 23, 2022, when a state of emergency was declared in the country. Since he was not a military man and had never served before, he was told to come back when martial law was introduced. The next day, Andrii was again standing at the door of the military enlistment office," said his ex-wife Iryna. "In the spring of 2022, we met during the defense of Kyiv, most of the guys had no experience of military service, and Andrii was one of them. At first, it was very difficult for him, we were on duty around the clock. There was little time for sleep. But Andrii never whined, he was very motivated. When at the end of April the battalion was recruiting volunteers for the East, Andrii was one of the first to raise his hand, but then I dissuaded him, as I saw that he was not yet ready for war. He heard me and began to prepare, attending tactical and fire training, and in his free time he was engaged in sports and later turned into a real warrior. I am very sorry that we have lost such a patriot!" said his comrade Serhii Hordenin (call sign "Hordyi). "When we were between Hryhorivka and Bilohorivka, on duty at 'Kreida-3', we were bombed from all sides with various calibers. And one by one I began to withdraw my unit. When we pulled everyone out, carried them out, I look: Andriukha is carrying a salad-colored bag on his back, like from under sugar. I say: 'Mayak, why are you dragging it?', and he: 'This bag saved my life.' While we were returning, we were attacked again, we went through a mine barrage. Me, Stopa and Andriukha. The guys were already at 'Kreida-2'. We had already collected their things when we were returning, we came under another barrage of fire. Hiding in the nearest trenches, Andriukha was walking with that bag. And I saw a hole punched in his bag. Then he showed me that a bullet had also passed through the sleeping pad that was in the bag," said unit commander Mykola Poienko. The defender was buried in the village of Florine, Vinnytsia region. Andrii is survived by his parents and his son Artem, who was 7 years old at the time of his father's death.