Andrii V. Mekheda (Tykhyi)

Scout Andriy Mekheda (call sign Tikhyi) was killed on May 2, 2022, during a reconnaissance mission in the area of the city of Izium in the Kharkiv region. The defender was 52 years old. Andriy was born in the village of Rokytne in the Kyiv region. He graduated from the local school No. 1. From 1988 to 1990, he served in the military on conscription. After the start of the Russo-Ukrainian war in 2015, he served in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He carried out combat missions in the area of the Anti-Terrorist Operation / Joint Forces Operation. He served in the 130th Separate Reconnaissance Battalion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. During the full-scale Russian invasion, Andriy was in Portugal. However, he immediately decided to return to Ukraine to defend it once again. This time, Tikhyi, as part of the 132nd Separate Reconnaissance Battalion of the Air Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, defended his homeland from Russian occupiers. He was a squad leader. "An experienced scout. A very professional person who trained many fighters of our battalion," noted comrade Ivan. "He in battle, like a true warrior. We all hoped that perhaps a message would come saying 'Alive.' There was no communication. But the miracle did not happen... You were a man of character. Calm, balanced. Thank you for convincing and not taking my boys with you on your last trip. Rest in peace, Brother. You are with us forever," wrote comrade Shamil. The defender was buried in his hometown of Rokytne. Andriy is survived by his wife and two daughters.