Mykola V. Hardzhala (Haha)

Soldier Mykola Hardzala (call sign Haha) was killed on June 11, 2023 near the village of Ivanivske in the Donetsk region. While rescuing a comrade on the battlefield, he sustained fatal injuries during enemy artillery shelling. The warrior was forever 28 years old. Mykola was born in the village of Ozyutichi, Volyn region. He lived in Lutsk. He studied at the Lutsk Higher Vocational School of Construction and Architecture. Later, he graduated from Lutsk National Technical University. He worked as a carpenter at the "VND" furniture factory. In 2014-2015, he was a participant in the Anti-Terrorist Operation in Donbas. With the start of the full-scale war, the man returned to the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine without hesitation to defend his native country from the occupiers. Mykola served in the 5th Separate Assault Brigade. He held the position of a machine gun squad member. He carried out combat missions in the most intense areas of the front. "The pain is gone. The palms of fate are full to the brim. I will pay the price to the one, the holy one. So imperceptibly death passed by - the final station of returning home... In the struggle for the independence of Ukraine and the life of each of us, another warrior - our graduate Mykola Hardzala - has perished. In this bitter time, we all bow our heads in sorrow and grief and express our sincere condolences to Mykola's family, loved ones and friends. May the good, bright memory of our defender become stronger than death and forever remain in the memory of relatives, colleagues, friends, comrades-in-arms, all who knew him, loved and respected him," the Lutsk school page said. "Mother raised them with their brother alone, since their father tragically was killed when the boys were still small! Mykola was a good son, a beloved husband, a loving father, just a good and kind person! An irreparable loss, grief, pain, eternal sadness. May the Heavenly Kingdom, eternal memory to the Hero!" wrote the deceased's acquaintance Yulia Sokolyuk. The defender was buried in the village of Polonka in Volyn. At home, his mother, brother, wife and son were waiting for him.