Mykola M. Marchak (Kum)

Soldier Mykola Marchak (call sign Kum) was killed on March 21, 2023, defending the city of Bakhmut in the Donetsk region. During the fulfillment of a combat mission, Ukrainian soldiers took several occupiers prisoner. While returning to their positions with them, they came under enemy mortar fire. Kum received fatal injuries. On March 17, the soldier would have turned 41 years old. Mykola was from the village of Zmiyivka in the Kherson region. He lived in the city of Nova Kakhovka. He graduated from the Kharkiv National Automobile and Highway University, where he obtained a degree in traffic organization engineering. He was passionate about cars, loved the road, and traveling. He worked abroad. When the full-scale war began, the man was in Poland. However, he soon returned home and went to the military enlistment office. Later, he became a serviceman of the 28th Separate Mechanized Brigade named after the Knights of the Winter Campaign. He held the position of a rifleman-medic in the ammunition supply company platoon. "Mykola was the godfather of our son. From the very beginning to the end, he was on the front line. He was a true warrior, a man of his word, a man of courage, an example of indomitability and strength of spirit. Mykola honorably fulfilled his duty to protect his state and remained faithful to the Ukrainian people and Ukraine until his last breath. He gave his life for the integrity and independence of Ukraine. He was a true patriot of Ukraine, courageous, brave, fair, a loving son, husband, brother, and loyal friend. He sacrificed himself for the victory in the struggle for our freedom," said Lilia Liashko. Mykola was buried in his native village. The warrior is survived by his mother, sister, wife, son, who was 3 years old at the time of his father's death, relatives, and friends. The defender was posthumously awarded the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, 3rd degree.