Oleksandr O. Basalyha (Monhol)

Senior Lieutenant Oleksandr Basalyka (call sign Mongol) was killed on March 9, 2023 in battle with the occupiers near the city of Bakhmut, Donetsk region. The warrior was forever 31 years old. Oleksandr was born and raised in the city of Dnipro. He has been a military man since 2014. Initially, he served in the 1st separate tank brigade. He was a gunner, then became a tank commander. He participated in the ATO / JFO, in particular in the battles for Debaltseve. In 2016, he was awarded the Order of Courage of the III degree. In 2021, he graduated from the Military Institute of Tank Troops of NTU "KhPI" and obtained a master's degree in the specialty "Armaments and military equipment". He received the professional qualification of a mechanical engineer, a tactical level officer. After graduation, he began service in the 93rd separate mechanized brigade "Kholodnyi Yar". During the full-scale invasion, he was a company commander. In December 2022, he was awarded the medal "Defender of the Fatherland". "I have never met people like Sasha. Kind, sincere, fair and brave! It seemed that he always knows how to act correctly, and fears nothing and no one. I still don't understand how such strength, endurance, tenderness and care can be combined in one person. He was an open and warm person, became an example for many, and for me - a light. I knew: if we are together, everything can be solved. It didn't matter where we were, but we always had a sense of home. We dreamed a lot, he had a huge passion for life. When we met, Sasha was already a military man. As early as 2014, he went to defend Ukraine. He became an officer, served in the headquarters. When the full-scale invasion began, he went to the infantry, but he was always drawn to technology. At work, he was restrained and focused, he earned the respect of his subordinates. I always told him that I was proud of him. And I always will be. He is my Hero!" - said the officer's wife Kateryna. The warrior was buried in the Alley of Heroes of the Krasnopilskyi cemetery in Dnipro. Oleksandr is survived by his parents, wife, sister, other relatives, friends and comrades-in-arms.