Oleksandr M. Bozhok (Rum)

Senior soldier Oleksandr Bozhok (call sign Rum) died on April 27, 2022, in a hospital from shrapnel wounds received the day before while defending the city of Rubizhne in the Luhansk region. The warrior was 33 years old. Oleksandr was born in the city of Vinnytsia. He stu at a local school. He served in the National Guard during his mandatory military service. He then graduated from the Faculty of Prosecutor's Office and Investigation at the Odesa National Law Academy. He worked as a lawyer. In his free time, he engaged in sports. From the first days of the full-scale war, he joined the local territorial defense and stood at checkpoints. In April, he became a fighter in the 111th Separate Brigade of Territorial Defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and went to the front lines. He constantly reassured his relatives and said that he was doing well. On April 25, Oleksandr told his mother that he would be out of contact for 5 days. Two days later, he was gone. His family did not know this. His mother continued to send him messages and waited for a reply. Eventually, she began searching for him. By early May, she was informed of the worst news. "My son was a very kind, decent, honest, fair, and cheerful person. He was always the first in everything. He said, 'I am a true warrior.' He constantly helped everyone: both people and animals. There are very few such people in our time. He could have stayed in the rear, but he went as a volunteer. He was the best son. We miss him very much," said the mother of the fallen, Tetiana. The warrior was buried in the village of Zarvantsi in the Vinnytsia region. Oleksandr is survived by his parents, a sister, and a nephew.