Oleksandr O. Aleksashkin (Otto)

32-year-old senior lieutenant Oleksandr Aleksashkin (call sign Otto) was killed on September 10, 2022, during the counteroffensive in Kharkiv Oblast. In the area of the village of Borshchova, the officer was blown up by an enemy explosive device. Oleksandr was born in the city of Dolyna, Ivano-Frankivsk region. After finishing school, he stu at the Ivano-Frankivsk Higher Art Vocational School, specializing in "Decorative Applied Arts." He completed his mandatory military service. After getting married, he moved to the city of Sambir in Lviv Oblast. Since childhood, he was passionate about fishing and tried to go to the water body in any weather during his free time. Later, he went fishing with his wife. The couple enjoyed active leisure activities: they went skydiving and hiking in the mountains. In 2014–2015, Oleksandr participated in the Anti-Terrorist Operation in Donbas. He then decided to dedicate his life to the army and enrolled in the Hetman Petro Sahaidachnyi National Ground Forces Academy in Lviv. He graduated from the combat application faculty, obtained the rank of lieutenant, and specialized as a platoon commander. After graduating in 2021, the officer joined the 14th Separate Mechanized Brigade named after Prince Roman the Great. He commanded a motorized infantry platoon and carried out combat missions in the area of the Joint Forces Operation. With the onset of full-scale war, Otto continued to defend Ukraine in the ranks of his native brigade. He fought in Kyiv Oblast, Zhytomyr Oblast, and Mykolaiv Oblast. "He was a kind and bright person, always smiling, with a steel spirit. He 'charged' those around him with his enthusiasm and impressed with his resilience. A loving, caring, and gentle man. A faithful and reliable comrade and friend. A brave, just, honest, unyielding, courageous, prudent, and wise commander, worthy of his officer's rank. His comrades said he was a commander with a capital letter. He faithful to the military oath and the people of Ukraine," said the officer's wife, Ivanna. Oleksandr was buried in the city of Sambir in Lviv Oblast. At home, his wife was waiting for the hero.