Ihor M. Kosivtsov (Kos)

54-year-old defender Ihor Kosivtsov (call sign Kos) was killed on March 11, 2022, while defending Chernihiv from Russian occupiers. That night, the enemy launched an airstrike on the city. Ihor was born in Russia. When he was 3 years old, he moved with his family to his mother's homeland — the city of Bakhmach in Chernihiv region. He lived there all his life. In 1989, he graduated from the Konotop Construction Technical School of Transport Construction with a degree in "Construction and Operation of Motor Roads." In 2016, he volunteered for the ATO. He fought as part of the volunteer battalion "Carpathian Sich," and later became a fighter in the 93rd Independent Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In 2018, he was discharged and returned home. He worked at the Bakhmach communal enterprise "Komunalnyk," holding the position of foreman. He had extensive experience as a builder, always constructing and repairing something at home. When the full-scale Russian invasion began, Ihor was already prepared and on the morning of February 24, 2022, he joined the local military unit. The next day, he went to defend Chernihiv. "We were married for 19 years. We lived together with my daughter from my first marriage, Kateryna. Ihor was a strong-willed person with a firm character. He cared deeply about the fate of Ukraine and his hometown. He was part of the military unit, and on the night of March 11, Russian aviation dropped several 500-kilogram bombs on their location. Due to the attack causing significant disruptions to mobile communication, we could not contact him for several days. We tried to find him through various means, not losing hope that he would call us soon. But after 5 days, we learned that he had died. We miss him very much. It is still hard to believe that Ihor is no longer with us," said the wife of the fallen, Larysa. The defender was buried in Bakhmach, Chernihiv region. At home, Ihor was awaited by his wife, daughter, brother, and sister.