Anton V. Strikov (Tokha)

Sergeant Anton Strikov (call sign Tokha) was killed on November 18, 2022, while carrying out a combat mission near the village of Klishchiyivka in the Donetsk region. He would have turned 30 years old in December. Anton was born in Nikopol, Dnipropetrovsk region. He graduated from the Oles Honchar Dnipropetrovsk National University, where he studied at the Faculty of Applied Mathematics, specializing in "Software Systems". He worked at the company "GR8 Tech". He was passionate about drones. In 2016, he became the winner of the "Copter Race" drone racing competition. In recent years, he lived in the capital. With the start of the full-scale war, Anton joined the defense of Ukraine and Kyiv, joining the local Territorial Defense Forces. He served in the 241st separate brigade of the Territorial Defense Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He was a senior sergeant, the commander of a drone reconnaissance platoon. He participated in the liberation of the Kyiv and Kharkiv regions, and in the defense of Bakhmut in the Donetsk region. "Tokha was a courageous and kind person, talented in many fields. He changed the world for the better and was always for justice. He had his own outlook on life. Purposeful, caring, reliable, he was always one step ahead," said the deceased's sister Iryna. "Anton was a resident of the Noosphere engineering school and contributed to the development of Ukrainian drone racing. He participated in the first "Copter Race 2015" competition in Ukraine, and the following year Anton became one of the winners. Later, as a volunteer, he helped organize similar competitions for drone enthusiasts. In 2017, when "Copter Race" became international, Anton came up with and implemented the idea of night races. The pilots who took part in the races were delighted with the night track! Although Anton is no longer with us, he will forever remain in our memory and hearts. Each of us has different memories of him, but for all of us he will forever remain a hero who gave his life for a free Ukraine. Rest in peace, friend. Heroes never die!" - written on the Noosphere school page. Anton was buried at the Forest Cemetery in Kyiv. He is survived by his parents, brother, sister, friends and comrades-in-arms.