Oleksandr O. Shylov (Monakh)

Alexander Shilov (call sign Monakh), a paratrooper, was killed on September 22, 2022, in battle with the occupiers near Bakhmut in the Donetsk region. The fighter with severe injuries could not be evacuated in time, as the occupiers did not stop the shelling. He was killed from blood loss. In a month, the defender would have turned 27 years old. Alexander was born in Kryvyi Rih. After school, he studied at the Kryvyi Rih Lyceum-Boarding School with enhanced military and physical training. He was fascinated by military affairs and dreamed of defending his native country. In 2017, he fulfilled his dream and joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He fought in the ATO/JFO in Donbas and sincerely believed in victory over the enemy. During the full-scale invasion, Alexander was a fighter of the 81st Separate Airmobile Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. "Alexander was a very good person. He wanted to be a military man since childhood. When he turned 18, he went to study at a military lyceum. After graduation, he went to defend our state in the East. In early May 2022, he was seriously wounded, had a severe concussion, and was in the hospital for about 2 weeks. Then he was allowed to go home to rest and continue treatment, but he refused and returned to the front. He was sent to Bakhmut, where he was wounded in the leg and arm. But he did not go to the hospital. Due to the concussion, he suffered from headaches and did not sleep at night. His last months of life were very difficult, he said: 'It's better to die than to endure such pain.' But he continued to defend Bakhmut... That's where he was killed," said the deceased warrior's beloved girlfriend. Alexander was buried in his hometown. At home, he was awaited by his mother, brother, and beloved.