Oleksandr O. Khomei (Malysh)

33-year-old Yevhen Kovalov was killed on April 20, 2022, during mortar shelling near the city of Avdiivka in Donetsk region. A fighter of the 110th brigade of the territorial defense received a fatal shrapnel wound. Yevhen was born in the town of Purpe (Russia). He lived in Novopskov in Luhansk region. By profession, he was an engineer in the field of heat and gas supply and water disposal. He was a football fan, a fan of the ultras of the Luhansk team "Zorya". In recent years, the man worked as a welder in the Czech Republic. He loved to travel, dreamed of seeing the ocean. However, when a full-scale war began, Yevhen returned and joined the territorial defense from the first days. He became the senior gunner of the grenade launcher platoon of the 110th separate brigade of the territorial defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. "My husband was a decent and honest person, a wonderful family man and a loving father. From the beginning of the full-scale invasion, he left his job abroad to return to Ukraine and defend it. Without any military experience, he did not hesitate to join the ranks of the Armed Forces. He knew what he was fighting for and was a faithful son of his Motherland," his wife Olga said. "They killed our friend. Sincere and brave, a patriot of his country, a wonderful father and husband. He was killed in battle for all of us," his friend Natalia wrote on social media. The defender was buried in the city of Novohrad-Volynskyi, Zhytomyr region. Yevhen is survived by his parents, wife, and two daughters.