Mykola S. Kholodko

Soldier Mykola Kholodko was killed on April 1, 2023 near the settlement of Bilohirivka in the Luhansk region. During the performance of a combat mission together with his comrades-in-arms, he came under enemy artillery fire and received serious injuries. The soldier was hospitalized in the intensive care unit, but the injuries were so severe that his heart could not withstand. 11 days later, the defender would have turned 28 years old. Mykola was born and lived in the village of Lyudyn, Rivne region. He studied at the Lyudyn Lyceum. After school, he entered the Kostopil Construction Vocational School, where he obtained the profession of a carpenter. Later, he worked as a construction worker abroad. He loved sports, in particular playing football. He adored fishing. During the full-scale Russian invasion, Mykola without hesitation took up the defense of his native Ukraine. He fought in the ranks of the 81st Separate Airmobile Brigade of the Airborne Assault Troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He was a senior gunner of a grenade launcher platoon of the fire support platoon. "My husband was always cheerful and kind, loving and caring. He loved his family very much. He always spent time with his family. He adored playing with his sons, teaching them. He always supported and protected us. He had many friends, he was the soul of the company, he knew how to joke well, where he was, there was always laughter. No matter how difficult life was, he always joked. He was special. He went to serve, first of all, to protect his loved ones, so that his sons would live in a free country. He bravely carried out combat missions. And he served in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine," said the wife of the fallen warrior, Iryna. The paratrooper was buried in his native village. At home, Mykola was awaited by his parents, brother, sister, wife and two sons.