Mykola V. Kot (Dunai)

Lieutenant Mykola Kot (call sign Dunai) died in the hospital on December 22, 2022. On December 18, the defender came under enemy mortar fire near the village of Tonenkhe in the Donetsk region. Six days before his death, the officer turned 25 years old. Mykola was born in the village of Ridkodubi, Rivne region. In 2015, he graduated from the Stovpets school and entered the college of non-commissioned officers of the National Academy of Land Forces named after Hetman Petro Sahaidachny in Lviv. In February 2018, after graduating from the college, he was sent to serve in the 79th Separate Airmobile Brigade. In the fall of the same year, Mykola entered the National Academy of Land Forces. After the start of the full-scale invasion of the Russian occupiers, his course was graduated ahead of schedule and distributed to units. Mykola received the position of commander of the engineering and position platoon in military unit A0451 in Dubno, Rivne region. "He was a bright, honest, and fair person. He loved life, his profession, had many ambitions and many plans for the future. He always wanted his son to be proud of him," said the defender's wife, Ivanna. "There are no words that could now comfort the grieving wife, the little son, the parents and relatives of the fallen. We offer our sincere condolences to the family and share your pain of loss. A deep bow to our warrior-defender," said the Verbska community. The officer was buried in the cemetery in the village of Stovpets, Rivne region. Mykola is survived by his parents, wife and a son born in 2021.