Mykola V. Litovko

Born on April 19, 1976, in the city of Severodonetsk, Luhansk region. In 1992, he graduated from secondary school No. 3 in Severodonetsk (now the Severodonetsk educational complex "Specialized school-collegium of the National University of "Kyiv-Mohyla Academy"), then from vocational technical school No. 101 in Severodonetsk (later the educational institution became part of the Severodonetsk Professional Chemical Technology Lyceum, and later - the Severodonetsk Higher Vocational School). He served his mandatory military service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. From spring 2015 to April 11, 2016, he served in the Armed Forces of Ukraine under partial mobilization. He served in the 53rd Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (military unit field post V0927, Severodonetsk/Lysychansk, Luhansk region). During 2015-2016, he participated in the anti-terrorist operation in eastern Ukraine. From May 29, 2016, he served under contract in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He served in the 1st mechanized battalion of the 53rd Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (military unit field post V0927, Severodonetsk/Lysychansk, Luhansk region). From the summer of 2016, he again participated in the anti-terrorist operation in eastern Ukraine. On July 18, 2016, around 03:00, during a mortar shelling of the brigade's positions by Russian-terrorist groups in the area of the urban-type settlement of Zaitseve of the Horlivka City Council (now in the Bakhmut district) of Donetsk region, one of the shells hit the dugout where soldier Mykola Litovko was located. As a result of the explosion, the serviceman died on the spot. As a result of the shell hitting the dugout, junior lieutenant Volodymyr Vovchenko and captain Oleksandr Shvets also died. On the same day, senior soldier Oleg Hrabchak died in the hospital from injuries sustained during the explosion. He was buried on July 22, 2016, at the Central Cemetery in Severodonetsk, Luhansk region.