Oleksandr O. Shykovets (Shrek)

Senior Sergeant Oleksandr Shykovets (call sign Shrek) was killed on August 21, 2023 near the village of Robotyne in the Zaporizhzhia region. While performing his duties, the soldier received fatal injuries during enemy shelling with guided aerial bombs. On August 15, the defender turned 53 years old. Oleksandr was from the village of Velyka Selo (Belarus). He obtained the profession of a ship repair mechanic. He served in the regular army. In 1991, he settled in the city of Nizhyn, Chernihiv region. From 1992 to 2004, he worked as a diesel mechanic in the Nizhyn deep drilling expedition. Then he was a construction worker and a driller abroad. During the full-scale Russian invasion, in March 2022, the man voluntarily mobilized into the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He served in the 30th battalion of the 117th separate brigade of territorial defense. He took the position of squad commander and went to defend the Sumy region. In January 2023, he was transferred to the 117th separate mechanized brigade. At first, he was a driver, and from March he became the commander of the engineering and sapper company. As part of his unit, he defended the southern direction. "I am a wounded bird with one wing. Your, Sasha, body was torn to pieces by the aerial bomb, and at the same time - my heart and soul," wrote the wife of the fallen Oleksandr. "Sasha will forever remain in my memory as a beautiful person with a kind heart who knows how to love," added his friend Olena. "He actively participated in the life of the city, had many acquaintances and friends. He was always humane, sincere, ready to come to the rescue in a difficult moment. He was socially active, together with volunteers, he took part in providing for the unit. Heroes do not die. Oleksandr Shykovets will forever remain in our hearts. His memory will live in his deeds and in our common victory over the aggressors, terrorists and invaders. Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the heroes!" - said in the Nizhyn City Council. The defender was buried at the Hunkovskyi cemetery in Nizhyn. The warrior is survived by his parents, wife, son, relatives, friends and comrades-in-arms.