Oleksandr T. Romanenko (Skif)

In 1977, he graduated from Starosynyavska Secondary School No. 1 and studied at one of the vocational schools in Khmelnytskyi, specializing in "Electrician." In December 1978, he was drafted for compulsory military service. He held the position of mechanic-driver of the MAZ-543 rocket transporter at one of the military schools in Kazan (Volga Military District). Later, in January 1980, he was sent to continue his service as part of the limited contingent of Soviet troops in the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, where he was appointed as a driver of a KamAZ-5320 in the 425th separate automotive battalion of the 59th army supply brigade of the 40th army. After being discharged in January 1981, he returned to his homeland and graduated with honors from the Kamianets-Podilskyi Agricultural Technical School in June 1985, majoring in "Electrification of the National Economy." From 1985 to 1987, he studied part-time at the Ukrainian Agricultural Academy in Kyiv and worked as an electrical engineer and medical technician at the Starosynyavska District Hospital. In 1987, at his own request, he was again drafted into the army, and on April 11, 1988, he graduated from the sergeant school of the Carpathian Military District, receiving the military rank of sergeant. He served as the head of the workshop of the 40th army of the Turkestan Military District and was later appointed deputy commander of the reconnaissance group of the 459th separate special purpose company of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the USSR. He participated in combat operations multiple times and was awarded the Order of the Red Star (December 17, 1990) and the Medal for Courage (February 1, 1989). One of his comrades was Yuriy Olefirenko. Since 1989, after the withdrawal of troops to the USSR, he served in the Turkestan Military District (Samarkand). He made 42 parachute jumps and won the title of district champion in athletics during running competitions. He participated in the filming of the feature film "Afghan Break." In May 1992, he was discharged. He returned to his homeland and worked as the head of security for the "Inkom" firm and LLC "Vega" from 1992 to 2005, later becoming the director of a nursing home for the elderly. On November 2, 2010, he was elected the village head of the town of Stara Synyava. He actively participated in the public movement of veteran "Afghans." Since 1996, he headed the Starosynyavska District Organization of the Ukrainian Union of Veterans of Afghanistan and co-authored the book "This is My War," published in 2005, preparing materials for a second book about "Afghans" from the district living outside its borders… He was awarded the Defender of the Fatherland Medal. After the events of the Revolution of Dignity in the spring of 2014, at the very beginning of Russia's annexation of the Crimean Peninsula, Oleksandr Trokhymovych, despite his age and position, immediately responded to the threat to Ukraine's independence and territorial integrity—he packed a "go bag" and contacted the military commissariat. However, he was refused enlistment due to age restrictions in effect at that time. When his student son shared his desire to join the army, he stopped him, arguing that it was too early for him, that he should study while he would fight because he knew how to do it… And then he took leave and left… He enlisted in the volunteer battalion of territorial defense "Donbas," receiving the call sign Skif, and on May 23, he participated in a fierce battle with terrorists from the "Vostok" group in the village of Karlivka in the Marinka district of Donetsk region. After the unit was incorporated into the National Guard of Ukraine, he signed a contract to serve in the military reserve of the NGU, taking the position of sergeant of the reserve battalion of special purpose NGU "Donbas." After completing training in June 2014, he returned to the area of the anti-terrorist operation, participating in the liberation of settlements in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, including Artemivsk, Lysychansk, Popasna, Kurakhove, and Ilovaisk. As his comrades recall, he always wore the "Afghan" award—the Order of the Red Star—on his camouflage, but this peculiar talisman did not protect him from a sniper's bullet… In 2013, Oleksandr Trokhymovych organized a meeting of former fighters of the 459th special purpose company of the GRU in the resort village of Koblev, Mykolaiv region, which was attended by over 40 veterans, mostly Ukrainians and Russians. "How they rejoiced, how sincere the hugs and memories were!" his wife, Tetiana Volodymyrivna, later recalled in an interview with a local newspaper. Not much time passed, and in the spring of 2014, while communicating with comrades via Skype and social networks, Romanenko was horrified to hear his Russian comrades express a "unanimous approval" of the aggressive policies of their government… He tried to explain what was actually happening in Ukraine, but the poison of propaganda was stronger; the conversations did not work out—and this caused Oleksandr Trokhymovych so much pain that he said it was harder for him in those discussions than in battle… Immediately after the liberation of Popasna, at the initiative of the sergeant of the special purpose battalion "Donbas," former Afghan warrior, Order of the Red Star holder, reserve sergeant Oleksandr Romanenko (Skif), and with the support of local residents, the Russian coat of arms and occupier's symbols were painted over on the stele at the entrance to the city.