Oleksandr I. Prystaia (Balu)

Sergeant Major Oleksandr Prystaya (call sign Baloo) was killed on September 17, 2022, near the village of Ambarne in the Kharkiv region. The battalion's reconnaissance group fell into an ambush set by Russian occupation forces. In the battle, the defender sustained fatal gunshot wounds. A month later, on October 18, he would have turned 47 years old. Oleksandr was born and lived in Uzhhorod. He received training as a lathe-miller in a vocational school. From 1993 to 1995, he served in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. For a long time, he worked in a rapid response team at the security agency LLC SP "SENK." In 2015-2016, as part of the 128th Separate Mountain Assault Brigade, he participated in the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO). Together with his comrades, he held positions near Donetsk Airport. During the full-scale Russian invasion, he once again took up the defense of his homeland against the occupiers. He joined the 68th Separate Battalion of the 101st Separate Territorial Defense Brigade of Transcarpathia. At the time of his death, he was serving as the sergeant major of the rifle company. During his service, the soldier was awarded the honors "For Sacrifice and Love for Ukraine," "Participant of the ATO," "Combatant," and "War Veteran." "Before the full-scale invasion, I had never served in the army or held a weapon. We knew Sasha well even before the war, so being in the same unit with him made it easier to overcome difficulties. Baloo was an incredibly kind and sincere person, a true moral compass and friend at the front. In a difficult situation, I only needed to exchange glances with him for him to say his traditional phrase: 'Everything will be fine,' calming my nerves. He was a true patriot of Ukraine, a brave and selfless warrior," said his comrade Pavlo Velychko. "Serving with Oleksandr in the same unit on a challenging front seemed easier and simpler. He was a wonderful mentor, both simple and easy to communicate with, supporting and helping to grasp all the basics of military affairs. He is the kindest of all the military personnel I know," added comrade Denys Man. The hero was buried on September 24, 2022, at the Hill of Glory in his native Uzhhorod. The defender is survived by his wife, children, other relatives, friends, and comrades.