Andrii V. Kozhemiakin (Kyrylo)

Sergeant Andrii Kozhemiakin (call sign Kyrylo) died on June 10, 2023 during the liberation of the village of Blahodatne in the Donetsk region. While taking up new positions, Ukrainian soldiers repelled the enemy's attack. When the occupiers opened mortar fire, the defender received a fatal wound. The following month, on July 26, he would have turned 45 years old. Andrii was born in the village of Bolotkivtsi, Rivne region. He graduated from the Kutіanka general secondary school of I-III degrees. He then served in the internal troops, where he attained the rank of sergeant. In civilian life, he worked for a long time as a repair worker at the Kutіanka Lyceum. He loved animals, especially horses and dogs. He was married and raised three children. He tried to devote his free time to his family and loved ones. During the full-scale war, the man went to defend his country and family from the occupiers, joining the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He served in the ranks of the 68th separate Oleksa Dovbush Rifle Brigade. He held the position of squad commander. "Andrii was a brave and kind person with a good sense of humor. He always repeated: 'Who, if not us? If we don't stop the enemy there, in the East, they will come here.' He also said he was going to war for all of us. After his death, the platoon commander called and said that Andrii had shown himself during the assault on Blahodatne, and added that he was a man with a capital letter," said the sister of the fallen Olena Mykytiuk. The defender was buried in the village of Kutіanka, Rivne region. Andrii is survived by his mother, wife, two sons, daughter, sister and brother.