Mykola F. Koval (Yantar)

45-year-old Major Mykola Koval (call sign Yantar) was killed on September 17, 2022, during the defense of the Kharkiv region. Near the liberated city of Kupiansk, the officer's heart could not withstand the exhausting battles and stopped. Mykola was born in the town of Berezne in the Rivne region. Since childhood, he was very positive, sincere, and cheerful. He stu well. He graduated from Berezne Secondary School No. 2. Then he graduated with honors from Berezne Forestry College. In 2001, he graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv with a degree in "Finance" and obtained the qualification of an economist — officer of military management at the tactical level. He worked as the head of the financial service in military units in Lviv and Zvenyhorodka in the Kirovohrad region. He loved to sing and cook various dishes. Since childhood, he loved sports, especially football, and was a player on the Berezne District Football Team "Sluch." Later, he became a referee for district football matches. He wrote poetry. Since 2015, he participated in the ATO / JFO. During the full-scale war, Mykola held the position of deputy commander of the division for moral and psychological support of the 92nd Separate Mechanized Brigade named after the Cossack Ataman Ivan Sirko. "Eternal memory to you, our dear... It is so unbearable for all of us without you, it hurts so much... We still believe and wait, but we know that you will never come back, we will not hear you, we will not hug you... Why did God take you from us so early? Why? It is not in vain that they say that the Lord takes the best! This is the truth! You are the best! The best son! The best husband and dad! The best brother! The best friend and comrade! You loved everyone, and everyone loved you, because it was impossible not to love you..." said the officer's sister, Tetiana. "We have the honor to serve with him. We don't want to say 'served' because he is always with us, because this bright man always had a kind word for everyone, and most importantly — he always had a good deed for anyone in need. And it was always so pleasant to talk to him. It was a great joy and honor! He served Ukraine with dignity! He fought valiantly against our enemy, but his heart could not withstand the terrible war. His heart stopped at the combat post, but the fire of his heart did not extinguish. The fire of his heart will fall upon the heads of the Russian invaders... Mykola Fedorovych spoke only of victory and nothing else. He was the person who inspired us for the war, who supported us, who did everything in his life for Ukraine to win. We will always remember him... Eternal and bright memory to him!" noted comrade Andriy Melnyk. The serviceman was buried in his hometown in the Rivne region. Mykola is survived by his parents, sister, wife Olena, son Taras, and daughter Maria.