Oleksandr S. Parkhomenko (Chester)

31-year-old soldier Oleksandr Parkhomenko (call sign Chester) was killed on November 8, 2022, near the village of Terny in Donetsk region. He sustained fatal injuries during a combat mission as a result of enemy artillery shelling. Oleksandr was born in the city of Valmiera (Latvia). Later, he moved with his parents to Ukraine, to Mykolaiv region. From the age of 10, he lived with his family in the settlement of Yablunets in Zhytomyr region, where he completed general education school. He then studied at Vinnytsia Transport College, specializing in "Organization and Techniques of Fire Safety." Since childhood, he loved playing football, was passionate about computer games, loved nature, and adored animals. He was married and lived with his family in the city of Brovary in Kyiv region. He worked at Amway and later at INTER PROFIT. With the onset of full-scale war, Oleksandr sent his wife and son to Western Ukraine and returned to his parents, where he joined the territorial defense of his native settlement. After the company INTER PROFIT resumed operations, he returned to Brovary. In the summer of 2022, he became a soldier of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. After training in the United Kingdom, he served in the 25th Separate Airborne Brigade, holding the position of a shooter – a member of the airborne company's crew. "Bright, polite, sincere, responsible. Our dear son gave his young life for what he loved most – his native land, his family, his Ukraine. He did not evade service, was not afraid, and did not hide, although he could have, as he had no military experience, and his health was not all right. But he appeared at the military enlistment office at the first call, without a summons, he could not do otherwise. He will always be, is, and will remain in our hearts, in the memory of relatives, close ones, and friends as a loving son, the best brother, beloved husband, caring father, reliable friend, and comrade. A bright memory will remain in the hearts of all who knew, loved, and respected Sasha," wrote the mother of the fallen, Hanna. "My dear Sasha… I want to say thank you… Thank you for your strength and resilience, bravery and courage, thank you for the highest feat – you gave your life for the happy life of our son and the entire nation. We believe in victory and are eagerly waiting for it," added his wife Natalia. Oleksandr was buried in the settlement of Yablunets in Zhytomyr region. The defender is survived by his parents, sister, wife, son, relatives, friends, and comrades. Posthumously, he was awarded the Order of Courage III degree.