Oleksandr A. Yuzkov (Yuzyk)

Soldier Oleksandr Yuzkov (call sign Yuzik) was killed on October 18, 2022, while defending the city of Bakhmut in Donetsk region. The defender was 46 years old. Oleksandr was from the village of Dovzhok in Vinnytsia region. He studied at the local school. Later, he learned the profession of a tractor driver and began working in a collective farm in his native village. He served in the military for a term. In 2000, he got married and raised two sons: Oleksandr and Dmytro. He worked as a welder at the port of Odesa. Subsequently, he lived and worked in Zhytomyr and Vinnytsia. In 2021, he married for the second time and raised his wife's two daughters as his own. With the onset of the full-scale Russian invasion, he joined the territorial defense and then became a soldier of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He served in the 69th Separate Rifle Battalion, military unit A4612. He was a rifleman. He defended Donetsk region, including fighting for Soledar and Bakhmut. “Oleksandr will forever remain in our memory as a worthy son of the Motherland and a father, a brave man, a brother, a father, a villager, and a loyal friend to everyone who knew him. Eternal memory to the Hero!” — noted the community. “We have an age difference of 8 years; we grew up together. He was always like an older brother to me: in childhood and in youth. He was an extraordinarily cheerful and kind person, loved life, and made big plans,” said the niece of the fallen, Natalia. Oleksandr was buried in his native village. He is survived by his wife, two sons, two daughters, relatives, and friends.