Mykhailo Yu. Kovalenko (Boroda, Kit)

Senior soldier Mykhailo Kovalenko (call sign Cat, Beard) died on October 19, 2023 near the village of Staromaiorske in the Donetsk region. He received fatal injuries during an enemy tank shelling. The warrior did not live two months until his 36th birthday. Mykhailo was born in the city of Horodnia, Chernihiv region. He graduated from the 9th grade of Horodnia Secondary School No. 1, and studied for the next 2 years at Moshchenska Secondary School. In 2006, he graduated from the Chernihiv Vocational Lyceum, where he mastered the profession of an electric welder. In 2007-2008, he served in the military. In 2014-2015, he participated in the ATO in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, then had the call sign Cat. Before the full-scale invasion, he worked as an electric welder on construction sites in Kyiv. In September 2022, Mykhailo was again mobilized into the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He served as part of the rifle battalion of the 1st separate Siverska tank brigade. He held the position of senior gunner of the machine gun platoon. He took on a new call sign - Beard. "My husband was a very good person. We lived together for 11 years, we have two daughters. We loved each other very much... And now the war has taken away the most precious thing we had with our daughters..." - shared Maria Kovalenko. "Mykhailo was a very good person, a brave defender and a patriot of his country. For many who knew him personally, he is an example of indomitability and strength of spirit. For his wife and daughters, parents and brothers, he was and will forever remain a hero. We will never forget him," added the deceased's relatives. The hero was buried in his hometown. At home, Mykhailo was awaited by his wife, two daughters, other relatives, close ones and friends.