Mykola I. Choban (Pastukh)

Sergeant Mykola Choban (call sign Shepherd) was killed on February 22, 2023, while defending the city of Bakhmut in the Donetsk region. He would have turned 48 years old on May 22. Mykola was born and lived in the village of Velykyi Kuchuriv, Chernivtsi region. He graduated from the Tysovets General Secondary School named after Anna Dushchak. He then studied at the Chernivtsi Construction College, where he obtained the profession of a tiler. After serving in the army, he worked under contract in a separate long-range reconnaissance aviation squadron in Chernivtsi. Later, he worked in the National Police of Chernivtsi. During the full-scale war, when the occupiers came to his native lands, Mykola could not stay at home. He joined the ranks of the 57th separate rifle battalion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and went to the front. He held the position of commander of a rifle squad. "Incredibly brave and courageous, sincere and positive, with a very good heart and a wonderful smile. Forever a loving son, father and brother," wrote the sister of the fallen Mariya Choban. The warrior was buried in his native village. Mykola is survived by his mother, three sisters, and two sons.