Ihor I. Velychko (Zmii)

58-year-old senior soldier Igor Velychko (call sign Snake) was killed on September 5, 2022 in the Mechnikov Hospital in Dnipro. On August 31, the defender was wounded during an artillery shelling near the village of Karlivka in the Donetsk region. Igor was born in Makiivka, Donetsk region. Later, he moved with his parents to the Kirovohrad region, and then to Pervomaisk, Mykolaiv region. There he lived his whole life, graduating from local school No. 8. He studied at the Oleksandriia Vocational School No. 7, where he obtained the qualifications of a mason and reinforced concrete structure installer. He worked at the State Regulatory Service of Ukraine in Pervomaisk. In his free time, he loved fishing. Since 2019, Igor has been serving under contract in the 21st separate motorized infantry battalion "Sarmat" of the 56th brigade. He held the position of driver. When the full-scale war began, Snake went to the front line to defend Ukraine and his loved ones from the Russian invaders. "My father-in-law was a wonderful, decent man and the soul of the company. He always supported his family, always helped those who needed his help, giving away the last thing he had. He loved to relax in the circle of his friends and easily made new acquaintances. He highly valued and adored his family. He had little grandchildren whom he loved more than anything in the world. Unfortunately, the war changed his plans and our lives. We lost our father, grandfather, husband, friend... But we will never forget him. The grandchildren will always remember that their grandfather is a Hero of Ukraine. Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the Heroes!" - said daughter-in-law Diana. The defender was buried in Pervomaisk, Mykolaiv region. At home, Igor was awaited by his wife, son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren.