Andrii V. Shova (Khrust)

Soldier Andriy Shova (call sign Khrust) was killed on May 4, 2022, in the area of the village of Prudyanка in the Kharkiv region. The vehicle he was in detonated on a landmine during the evacuation of the wounded and dead from the battlefield. Andriy sustained fatal injuries. He was 29 years old forever. Andriy was originally from the Chernivtsi region. He stu at the Nyzhniostanivetska school. He served his mandatory military service in the Air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In 2019, he graduated from the Chernivtsi Faculty of the National Technical University "Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute," where he stu in the Department of "Machine Engineering Technology and Metal-Cutting Machines." In civilian life, he was a co-owner of the AS Service auto repair shop. He was passionate about cars, but his true calling was military service. He was an active participant in the Revolution of Dignity and later one of the first to go to Donbas. He participated in the ATO as part of the 10th Mountain Assault Brigade, the 24th Mechanized Brigade, and the 53rd Mechanized Brigade. He had the status of a combatant and was awarded the "Veteran of War" medal. With the onset of full-scale war, Andriy took up arms to defend Ukraine from Russian occupiers. He served in the ranks of the 10th Separate Mountain Assault Brigade "Edelweiss," where he held the position of a shooter. Together with his comrades, he participated in the liberation of the Sumy and Kharkiv regions. "He was and is the best person: a caring father, a beloved husband, and a loving son. He always covered his comrades, saving more than one life. A jack of all trades, he could turn anything into a masterpiece. It is a pity that the sky takes the best. This is an irreparable loss and pain for all of us for a lifetime. More than anything in life, he wanted a happy childhood for his children, always saying that children should not see war. He already knew the cruelty of the enemy, so without hesitation, he stood to defend all the children of Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. He said: 'Parents must fight for their children, as long as they are alive' and 'Who, if not us?!'", said the wife of the fallen hero. Andriy was buried in his native village of Verkhnі Sіnіvtsi in the Chernivtsi region. At home, he was awaited by his mother Olena, wife Myrina, daughter Nіna, son Mykola, and beloved dog Jessica. Posthumously, the soldier was awarded the Order of "For Courage" III degree and the medal "For the Glory of Chernivtsi."