Oleksandr S. Kolesnyk

31-year-old Sergeant Oleksandr Kolesnyk (call sign Gin) died on October 24, 2023 near the village of Netailove in the Donetsk region. After receiving the order "Take off!", he left the dugout to launch an FPV drone. At the moment when he was about to return, an explosion occurred. His comrades heard on the radio: "I am 300!" (wounded), went to help, tried to save him, but nothing could be done. A fragment took the life of the defender. Oleksandr was born and lived in Sievierodonetsk, Luhansk region. He graduated from Sievierodonetsk Vocational School No. 24, where he obtained the profession of electric and gas welder. He worked in his specialty at the Sievierodonetsk CHP. He was drafted for military service, returned and after some time signed a contract. He served in the 53rd Separate Mechanized Brigade. He was an operator of unmanned aerial systems. He resigned in December 2021 and returned to the CHP. He loved working with metal, making various products: from flowers to wrought-iron gates. He made models of ships, radio speakers, loved to communicate with friends, and dreamed of buying a car. With the start of the full-scale war, the man decided to defend his country. He helped his family move and settle in Ivano-Frankivsk, and in March 2022 he joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He served in the 59th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade named after Yakov Handziuk. He was the commander of the unmanned aerial systems unit. He defended the Mykolaiv, Kherson and Donetsk regions. "My son was a bright person. He always smiled and was in a good mood. He was very sensitive. If help was needed, you didn't have to ask, he would always help. He loved to give flowers and gifts. He had a lot of friends, helped them, loved to communicate with them. At the same time, he had a strong character. If he decided something, he had to do it. He had truly golden hands, he could do everything he started. Family, friends, comrades-in-arms - everyone was shocked by Sasha's death. We miss him very much, but we will always remember him as cheerful, bright and alive," said Valentyna Kolesnyk. Oleksandr was buried in the Alley of Heroes of the cemetery in Ivano-Frankivsk. The defender is survived by his mother, brother and beloved girlfriend.