Mykhailo Yu. Kolesnik (Vedmid)

Defender Mykhailo Koliesnik (call sign Bear) was killed on August 12, 2023, in battle with the occupiers near the city of Bakhmut in the Donetsk region. He received fatal wounds near the village of Klishchiyivka. The warrior was 26 years old. Mykhailo was born and lived in Zaporizhzhia. After finishing school, he enrolled at the National University "Zaporizhzhia Polytechnic", but after two years, in 2018, he left his studies and went to Kyiv. There, he joined the organization "National Squads" affiliated with "Azov". He was engaged in public activities. He dreamed of continuing his studies at the university after the war. He was an athlete, engaged in basketball and boxing. He was a fan of football, supporting FC Metalurh (Zaporizhzhia). From the first days of the full-scale war, the man went to the front as a volunteer. He fought for his country in the ranks of the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He held the position of operator of the anti-tank missile systems department of the anti-tank battalion. "Mykhailo went as a volunteer in the first days of the war. Not a minute of hesitation. He defended the Kyiv region, then the Donetsk direction near Bakhmut. He received a medal from the President of Ukraine. He was incredibly brave. His mottos were: 'Everything will be Ukraine' and 'We will win'. He is a true Hero. Forever in our memory," said the mother of the fallen. "A powerful, brave, determined, courageous warrior on the battlefield and a kind, open, attentive, caring man in life. Bear is an exceptional person who will be greatly missed. He is the same huge and reliable friend with unlimited strength, and at the same time, no less humanity and authenticity," wrote his friend Yevhen Yeremenko. The defender was buried in the cemetery of St. Nicholas in his native Zaporizhzhia. At home, Mykhailo was awaited by his parents, Yurii Petrovych and Natalia Dmytrivna.