Anton P. Zaiets (Chekhov)

Senior Lieutenant Anton Zaiets (call sign Chekhov) was killed on March 18, 2023 near the village of Bohdanivka in the Donetsk region. During the performance of a combat mission, he was fatally wounded by an enemy sniper. The officer was 33 years old. Anton was born in the city of Znamianka, Kirovohrad region. He graduated from the Ukrainian State University of Chemical Technology, obtaining a degree in metrology and measuring equipment engineering. He lived in Kyiv and worked in his specialty at the company TOV "Rih Expert". He was very talented: in his school years, he was engaged in translating various publications, fluently spoke English, had a good ear and played the guitar, and engaged in clay modeling. He was physically fit and paid a lot of attention to sports. In his youth, he played handball. He participated in the Anti-Terrorist Operation / Joint Forces Operation in the Donbas. During his service, Anton was repeatedly awarded, in particular, the medal "For Military Service to Ukraine" (2016) and the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytskyi of the III degree (2020). With the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Anton defended his native country in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He served in the 57th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade named after Koshovy Otaman Kostya Hordiienko. He was the deputy commander of the 34th battalion for combat operations. "Anton Zaiets is a Hero and a Man with a capital letter, he always helped everyone and went to the end, fighting for the freedom and independence of Ukraine. He deserves the honorary title of 'Hero of Ukraine', unfortunately, posthumously..." - said the fallen warrior's brother Serhii. The officer was buried at the Lukianivske Military Cemetery in Kyiv. Anton is survived by his parents, brother, wife, and daughter.