Oleksandr O. Stepanyshchev (SMIT)

Senior soldier Oleksandr Stepanyshchev (call sign Smit) was killed on May 5, 2024 near the village of Hryhorivka in the Donetsk region. He received fatal injuries during an enemy mortar attack. In June, the defender would have turned 44 years old. Oleksandr was born in the village of Koliukhiv, Vinnytsia region. He received secondary education and immediately went to work. He was a handyman in construction. For about 10 years he was passionate about numismatics. He was a poet and wrote many poems. During the full-scale war, in July 2022, he joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The man served in the 56th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade. He held the position of senior rifleman. For his service, he was repeatedly awarded. The hero's niece Anastasia says: "I am the late hero's own niece and a serviceman of the same battalion where we served together! Unfortunately, we did not serve together for long. He is gone, but I promise to do everything to bring victory closer and wipe out the filth that destroys families, generations and everything in its path! The most terrible thing for me as a medic who believed until the last moment that he would live, to take him out, accompany him and see that it's all over, that he can no longer be hugged, kissed, heard his pleasant words and poems, or laughed heartily at his jokes. And therefore I want to say a poem about my uncle: I cannot believe in your death, because you were everything to me! With the thoughts: "But maybe it will pass?" No, it didn't pass, this cursed war Took your young life! I don't believe it, but may it be cursed For taking you into oblivion! Hope did not die until the end, But no - these heavens have taken you away. You left behind your child and your love Now I no longer believe in any miracles." The defender was buried in his native village. Oleksandr is survived by his mother Nelya Pavlivna, his civil wife Vasylyna, son Tymofiy, sisters Valentyna and Olena, nephews Oleksandr and Andrii, and nieces Anastasia and Bohdana.