Ihor A. Kholodniak (Batia)

Igor Kholodniak (call sign Batya), an "Azovets", was killed on the night of July 29, 2022, as a result of a Russian terrorist attack in the Olenivka colony in Donetsk region. The defender was forever 46 years old. Igor was born and lived in Kremenchuk, Poltava region. He graduated from Kremenchuk Vocational and Technical School No. 16, obtaining the profession of crane operator. Then he served for two years in the navy in Crimea, on the ship "Lutsk". After returning home, he joined the police, where he worked for almost 20 years. He started as an ordinary patrolman and left with the rank of master sergeant, when he held the position of assistant duty officer of the city police department. In 2015, the man joined the ranks of the then battalion "Azov" and since then has participated in the ATO / JFO. He met the full-scale invasion together with his comrades-in-arms and immediately began to defend Mariupol. At that time, Igor held the position of commander of the repair company. On May 19, the fighter, by order of the higher command, laid down his weapons and went into captivity to the occupiers. Later he ended up in colony No. 120 in the village of Olenivka. The last message to his wife he sent on July 26, in which he congratulated her on the anniversary - 25 years of married life. "My husband was a positive person, he always helped his friends. Ukraine was above all for him," said Inna Kholodniak. On June 26, 2023, the warrior was buried in the Alley of Glory of the Svistovsky cemetery in his native Kremenchuk. At home, Igor was awaited by his wife and son. Posthumously, Sergeant Major Igor Kholodniak was awarded the Order of Courage of the III degree.