Oleksandr O. Ziukin (Izium)

Paratrooper Oleksandr Zyukin (call sign Izyum) was killed on September 14, 2023 near the village of Verbove in the Zaporizhzhia region. While carrying out a combat mission, he came under mortar fire and sustained fatal injuries. The warrior was 28 years old. Oleksandr was born in the village of Budivelnе in the Sumy region. He went to study in Kyiv and remained living there. He obtained a higher education at the National University of Physical Education and Sports of Ukraine, specializing in "Sports Management and Logistics". He worked at a company that was engaged in textile printing. He was passionate about football and traveled around Ukraine supporting the national team. He was interested in history and news, and could easily prove with facts why Ukraine is a sovereign state and why we need to defend it. During the full-scale invasion, the man voluntarily went to defend Ukraine. He served in the ranks of the 82nd Separate Air Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He was a shooter and was very proud to serve in the Air Assault Forces. He took the call sign Izyum in honor of his father, who also served in the Air Assault Forces in his youth and had the same call sign. "Sasha was young, active, very positive, and intelligent. He loved life incredibly strongly. He was also a loving son, a good brother, a great uncle, very sociable and the best, most handsome, most caring husband!" said his wife Yuliana, whom Oleksandr married during his service. The defender was buried in his native village in the Sumy region. Oleksandr is survived by his parents, wife, brother, and niece. Posthumously, soldier Oleksandr Zyukin was awarded the Order of Courage, 3rd degree.