Mykola I. Haba (Kvadrat)

Senior Lieutenant Mykola Haba (call sign Square) was killed on February 8, 2024, while carrying out a combat mission near the village of Klishchiyivka in the Donetsk region. That day, the enemy shelled the crew of a strike drone aviation unit with artillery. The officer received shrapnel wounds incompatible with life. Mykola was born in the village of Ponykovytsia, Lviv region. In 2002, he graduated with a gold medal from the local school. During his studies, he was fascinated by the exact sciences and dreamed of becoming a programmer. In 2002-2008, he studied at the Dnipropetrovsk National University of Railway Transport named after Academician V. Lazaryan, majoring in "Electrical Power Supply Systems" and obtained a master's degree, qualification of railway transport electrical engineer. During his studies, he invented and patented several improvements in the railway transport system. In 2006, he underwent military training at the university and received the rank of junior lieutenant. In 2007-2008, the man worked as an electromechanic at the repair and inspection section in Zdolbuniv, Rivne power supply distance. Then he was transferred to the position of electromechanic at the traction substation ECE-17 in Radyvyliv, where he was later appointed as a senior electromechanic. Mykola was an authority in the community, an initiator of positive changes. That is why he was repeatedly elected a deputy of the Ponykovytsia village council. Since 2019, he has been a deputy of the Brody City Council from the All-Ukrainian Union "Svoboda". He was open to people, always defended their interests in the session hall. Mykola was an innovator in everything: at work and at home. He always had many ideas and plans. In 2014-2015, he participated in the Anti-Terrorist Operation. Having combat experience, from the first hours of the full-scale war, he went to the military enlistment office to defend the Motherland again. He served and carried out combat missions as part of the 80th Separate Airborne Assault Brigade. He was appointed commander of a reactive artillery platoon of a reactive artillery battery of a reactive artillery division of the brigade artillery group. He proved himself to be a true professional. Among the combat duties, on August 8, 2022, Mykola wrote these poetic lines: "In these days of war, our hope is in God, God is our protection and help... Because here it's a matter of who - us or them. Ahead of us is VICTORY! Ukraine is suffering! This is the pain of the whole world... The crucible to temper the souls... And in time we all have to answer: In the sky, in the water or on the land! And what will I say before the Highest then? The Judge will ask everyone: Was I ardent in battle and labor? And the conscience answers... Did I hide, or did I stand up To do this hard work.. Did I answer for my words, Or would it be better to shut my mouth? The Lord is the guide on how we should live... For our actions, the path and the goal. He is the Father for us, and we are His children. God will give Ukraine happy years!" For his service, Mykola Haba was awarded the medals "Independence of Ukraine" of the III degree, "Defender of the Fatherland", "Participant in Combat Operations", "For Participation in the Anti-Terrorist Operation", the Order of Courage of the III degree and the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky of the III degree (posthumously). "Mykolka, sunshine, beloved - that's how I called him. A loving, kind, sensitive, merciful, prudent, decent, hardworking, creative, talented man... Mykola firmly believed in victory, brought it closer with all his might," said the warrior's wife. "A good son, a diligent student, a curious student, a wonderful husband, a loving father, a caring master, a responsible employee, a caring fellow countryman, a true Christian, a true patriot of his native land, a fearless warrior, a Hero... He always and everywhere smiled with a smile of love for the world, for the sun, he himself was like the sun, bestowing its rays on all living things..." - this is how Maryana Korol, the former deputy principal of the school, characterized Mykola. The hero was buried in his native village. Mykola was survived by his parents Olha and Ivan, his wife Maryana, and daughters Mariya and Marta.