Mykola O. Khaust (Died)

Sergeant Major Mykola Khoust (call sign Grandfather) was killed on April 3, 2023, while carrying out a combat mission near Bakhmut in the Donetsk region. He and his comrade evacuated a wounded comrade from the battlefield. The warrior was 27 years old. Mykola was born in the village of Shelyuhy, Zaporizhia region. He lived in the village of Rybyantseve in the Luhansk region. He obtained secondary specialized education. He worked as a security guard. He was passionate about cars and weapons. He loved to go hunting. Later, he went to serve in the border troops. He participated in the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) / Joint Forces Operation (JFO). He received the medal "Defender of the Fatherland". During the full-scale war, Mykola was a driver-mechanic of the 3rd Border Guard Unit named after Hero of Ukraine Colonel Yevhen Pikus of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. From the first days, as part of his unit, he continued to defend Ukraine from the occupiers. "Sincere, caring, ready to love the whole world. He managed to evacuate many of his comrades from the battlefield, thereby saving their lives. He sincerely loved Ukraine and bravely defended it from the very beginning of the war," said Natalia, a close friend of the deceased. "During his rotation, the village of Verbivka became Mykola's second home. This guy has touched the hearts of everyone who communicated with him. He was reliable, respected and admired by his comrades. He dreamed of returning to Verbivka after the victory to settle his life here. But it was not to be... Mykola asked that if anything happened, he be buried in this picturesque Polissya village. The news of his death pierced the heart of every Verbivka resident, and in every house they mourn and grieve for him as for a relative. Now burying Mykola Khoust in Verbivka has become a matter of honor. This was not the legacy Mykola dreamed of leaving in this village, but unfortunately, the war takes the best. His memory will forever remain in our hearts," the Vysotsk community wrote. The warrior will be buried in the village of Verbivka, Rivne region, as he requested. Mykola is survived by his mother and two sisters.