Mykola A. Lytvynenko (Blek)

44-year-old soldier Mykola Lytvynenko (call sign Black) was killed on June 23, 2023, while carrying out a combat mission near the village of Ivanivske in the Donetsk region. While extracting his comrades from under mortar fire, he himself sustained severe injuries. However, despite this, he managed to save the lives of three of his comrades. Mykola was born and lived in Kyiv. He graduated from the Kyiv National University of Food Technologies. He worked as a senior foreman in the electrical workshop at the Obolon plant in the capital. In his free time, he loved fishing and relaxing at the dacha. In the first days of the full-scale invasion, the man joined the Kyiv Territorial Defense Forces to defend his native city from the occupiers. He became a rifleman in the 129th battalion of the 112th separate brigade of the Territorial Defense Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. After the liberation of the Kyiv region, he went with the unit to other fronts. "Our father was an example of justice and courage. He constantly told me to be fair and honest in my dealings with others. He was respected not only at work as a good specialist, but also in everyday life. All our acquaintances and friends had only good thoughts about him. We had many dreams with him, but they will remain just dreams. For us, he was always the best, loving and caring dad. We miss him very much," said the deceased's elder son Dmytro. The defender was buried at the Forest Cemetery in Kyiv. At home, Mykola was awaited by his wife, son and daughter.