Andrii S. Blizniakov (Zamok)

Junior Sergeant Andrii Blizniakov was killed in action against Russian invaders on April 17, 2023, while defending the city of Bakhmut in the Donetsk region. He would have turned 55 years old in 2 months, on June 11. Andrii was born and lived his entire life in the city of Liubotyn, Kharkiv region. He obtained a higher education at the National Law Academy named after Yaroslav the Wise. He worked at the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine. He retired as a lieutenant colonel of the Ministry of Internal Affairs from the position of investigator in the Department for Combating Illicit Drug Trafficking. He began to engage in landscape design, particularly laying paving stones, but did this more for his own pleasure, as he loved working with his hands. In addition, he repaired damaged vehicles, built a house for his family, and tended to his garden. In his free time, he enjoyed playing billiards and reading books. In the fall, he would gather grapes to make wine, which he then gave to all his friends and neighbors. With the beginning of the full-scale invasion of the occupiers in March 2022, Andrii joined the ranks of the Kharkiv Territorial Defense Forces. He served in the ranks of the 127th separate brigade of the Territorial Defense Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He was the commander of the grenade launcher platoon of the 227th battalion. Together with his comrades-in-arms, he defended his native Kharkiv region and later went to other hot spots on the front line. On October 31, 2022, the President of Ukraine awarded the military the medal "Defender of the Fatherland". Andrii's daughter, Olena Bliznykova, said: "He will remain forever. Because he is in me and my brother, he will be in our children and our grandchildren's children. He will be in every tree he planted. In every tile he laid. In every nail he hammered and every car he repaired. I know for sure that he will be." On April 24, 2023, the courageous defender was given a military funeral and buried in the Alley of Glory of cemetery No. 18 in Kharkiv. Andrii Blizniakov is survived by his mother, wife, daughter, son, as well as his loving family, friends, and comrades-in-arms. He was posthumously awarded the Order of Courage, 3rd degree.