Mykola V. Bazylevych

37-year-old soldier Mykola Bazylevych was killed on November 15, 2023 in the village of Krynky, Kherson region. Then our troops managed to form a bridgehead for a counteroffensive on the left bank of the Dnipro River. At night, Mykola and his comrades-in-arms crossed the river and entrenched themselves in new positions. It was here that he received a fatal wound. Mykola was born in the village of Svaritsevichy in the Rivne region. From childhood, he showed curiosity and was always open to new things. Machinery became his favorite hobby at that time: he disassembled motorcycles, turned nuts, repaired tractors. He stood out among other teenagers with his innovative ideas. He became fascinated with welding. After graduating from the local school, he entered the Rivne Vocational Lyceum, which he successfully completed in 2005 and obtained the profession of a car mechanic. But he worked in construction. He often went abroad for work. He dreamed a lot, and one day he fell in love with a girl named Kateryna, who soon became his wife. "Mykola immediately liked me. I was so shy, but he set a goal to be together and confidently went to it," Kateryna recalls. Later, the family had a son Bohdan, and later a daughter Ivanna. Mykola always strived to provide for his family, so he continued to work hard. He told his wife: "Don't live for a day, dream!" And in his free time, Mykola produced innovative devices for agricultural machinery in the garage. In June 2023, Mykola joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He served in one of the aviation brigades of the Air Force. He was a gunner of the security unit of the brigade, which provided protection and defense of an important military facility. Among his comrades-in-arms, Mykola quickly gained the authority of a calm and balanced military. In the fall, he expressed a desire to transfer to the consolidated rifle brigade of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. During his service, he never complained, he liked being a soldier and feeling responsible for his family, the state, and himself. He always reassured his relatives, assuring them that everything was fine with him, and that he had faithful comrades-in-arms nearby. The warrior was buried in his native village. At home, Mykola was awaited by his wife, son, daughter, sister, and parents. Mykola Bazylevych was posthumously awarded the Order of Courage of the III degree.