Mykola M. Sylchenko (Kulibin)

Junior Sergeant Mykola Silchenko was killed in action on April 7, 2022, in a battle with the occupiers near the village of Studenok in the Kharkiv region. The life of the defender was cut short by an enemy mortar attack. The warrior was 35 years old. Mykola was born in the village of Yarova, Donetsk region. He stu at the Kharkiv National Automobile and Highway University. He then entered graduate school. Later, he was called up for service. In 2014-2015, he was a participant in the ATO. He served in the 22nd Separate Motorized Infantry Battalion, where he was the commander of the combat vehicle. He had the call sign Kulibin. Then he defended his Ph.D. thesis. He worked at the Kharkiv National Automobile and Highway University as a senior lecturer and taught at driving courses in private driving schools at the same time. He was a paratrooper of the Kharkiv Aeroclub. With the start of the full-scale invasion, Mykola once again took up the defense of Ukraine. At first, he defended the Kharkiv region. He participated in the explosion of the Izium Bridge. Then he joined the 2nd Special Purpose Battalion "Donbas". He took up the position of a rifleman-grenade launcher. Half an hour before his death, Mykola stopped by his parents' house. He was called and sent on a combat mission, from which he did not return. "He was a child of God. At the age of 8, he asked for a beehive with bees for his birthday, and as soon as he learned to read, he 'devoured' books. He spent all his childhood in his father's workshop, and by the 10th grade, he already knew the trade of a lathe operator. Mykola was always busy, there was no such thing as idleness. Now I understand why he was always in a hurry - because of the shortness of earthly life. Our son made his own way to a great life. He was a smart, talented, and conscientious person. He left behind a great love for his children, wife, sister and her family, parents, books, science, nature, and freedom," said the mother of the deceased. "There is no such good, bright, and dedicated person anymore. He loved his homeland very much. When I asked him where he would like to live, he always said: in Ukraine. I asked again: where else? And he said in Ukraine again. Mykola loved his family very much, and they were always his top priority. He loved his native village very much. He said that when his parents got older, he would move there to live. Yes, unfortunately, that's what happened. But now forever. For me, Mykola is always alive, and I will always wait for his promised phone call. The children miss their father very much, they know that he is now always with us - in the sky. No one can replace Mykola, there is no such person who could stand by his side," added his wife, Valentina. Mykola was buried in his native village. The defender left behind his parents, sister, wife, and two children. At the time of Mykola's death, his daughter Olya was 2 years old, and his son Ivan was 3. Posthumously, Junior Sergeant Mykola Silchenko was awarded the Order of "Courage" III degree.