Mykola S. Kucherenko (Kholod)

Soldier Mykola Kucherenko (call sign Kholod) died on August 29, 2023 near the village of Kozachi Laheri in the Kherson region. While carrying out a combat mission, he received a fatal wound as a result of a hit by an enemy shell. On September 4, the defender would have turned 27 years old. Mykola was from the village of Hirske in the Odesa region. He received a secondary education. He worked in construction in Odesa. He had many plans and dreams. He did not have time to start his own family. He always loved his homeland, so when the time came, he left his usual life without hesitation and changed his profession to a military one. During the full-scale Russian invasion, the man joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine to protect his loved ones and his country. He served in the 126th separate brigade of territorial defense. He held the position of driver of the anti-aircraft machine gun section of the anti-aircraft missile and artillery platoon of the fire support company. He was awarded the medal "Veteran of the War". "Mykola stood for Ukraine to the last and wanted to achieve victory," said his sister Svitlana Kucherenko. The soldier was buried in his native village. Mykola is survived by his mother, two sisters and a brother.