Mykola M. Popovych (Kompas)

42-year-old Senior Sergeant Mykola Popovych (call sign Compass) was killed on March 21, 2022 near the village of Novooleksandrivka in Luhansk region. He commanded a unit and was killed during combat. Mykola was born in Kalinin (Russia). He lived in Novoyavorivsk, Lviv region. He studied at Stebnytsia Specialized School of I-III degrees. Then he graduated from Drohobych Oil Technical School. Since 2014, he was in the organization "Tryzub". He worked as an instructor, led people on hikes. During the full-scale war, the man fought for Ukraine in the ranks of the 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade named after King Danylo. He held the position of gunner-operator, deputy commander of a combat vehicle. Together with his comrades-in-arms, he defended Luhansk region. "We first met at war, in a trench. His first words were: 'How did you get here? Is everything okay?' I went up to him and hugged him. Since then, we have not parted, got married, and raised children. He was a true warrior, a devoted friend and a loving husband. I want to be worthy of his heroism! He carried out combat missions to the last alongside his comrades-in-arms. Compass always went forward, no matter what. He shouted: 'Guys, I'll cover you!' - said the wife of the deceased Iryna. For a long time, Mykola was considered missing. He was buried on January 22, 2023 in Stebnyk, Lviv region. The hero left behind a mother, sister, two brothers, a wife and four children. The warrior was posthumously awarded the Order of Courage of the III degree and the Order of the Cross of the Hero.