Oleksandr V. Burdak (Bur)

Sergeant Oleksandr Burdak (call sign Bur) died on April 4, 2024, from severe injuries sustained while carrying out a combat mission in the Zaporizhzhia direction. A day before this, the warrior had turned 36 years old. Oleksandr was born in the village of Sedlyshche in Volyn. He graduated with honors from the National University of Water Management and Environmental Engineering in Rivne. Before the war, he worked abroad in construction. He was passionate about hunting and fishing. He was an honest, fair, friendly, and non-conflictual person, a loving husband, and a caring father. Together with his wife, he raised sons Dmytro and Roman. "Beside him, I was a beloved wife. A woman for whom and for whom he did everything. He built the house himself, planted the garden, and most importantly, we have two heirs of the Burdak family. I thanked him for the love and care he gave me at every opportunity. My beloved often joked that he needed to count a year of life with me as three, and after his death, I realized that I had lived with him a year as three. In love, respect, mutual understanding, and support. He was my support in life. The pain of loss has not subsided. I hope that one day, up there in heaven, we will surely meet, embrace, and I will hear from his lips: 'I knew you would cope!'" - said Aliona Burdak, the wife. Oleksandr Burdak voluntarily joined the defense of Ukraine on March 16, 2022. Initially, he served in the 53rd Separate Mechanized Brigade. For 67 days, he defended the city of Bakhmut. Then he was transferred to the 451st Separate Infantry Battalion of the 141st Separate Infantry Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He held the position of UAV operator. On September 10, 2023, Oleksandr's father, Sergeant Viktor Burdak, was killed. The son had the right to be discharged, but continued to fight for independence. "Sashko looked up to his father, the patriot, and was himself an example to follow," added the wife. "It is difficult when the sky takes the best. My heart is torn with pain for all the fallen in this bloody and fierce war, and the brightest memories of my husband-Hero will always live in my aching heart!" On March 27, 2024, Oleksandr set out on his last combat mission. "According to the guys, when he went out to launch his charged drone, he was hit by a drop from the enemy's drone. Sashko sustained severe injuries as his own unmanned aerial vehicle detonated in his hands. He was conscious for a long time. The comrades immediately took him to the emergency care facility, then to the hospital in Zaporizhzhia. There were numerous operations. For 9 days, he fought for his life, but, unfortunately, after his birthday, the man was killed. The whole time, I watched as my other half was slowly dying, and I could do nothing. The pain of loss cannot be described in words. I returned from Zaporizhzhia with half a heart, as the other was ruthlessly torn out by Russia," the wife shared. The hero was buried in the cemetery of his native village, next to his father. At home, Oleksandr was awaited by his two sons, wife, mother, and brother. Posthumously, Sergeant Oleksandr Burdak was awarded the Order of Courage of the III degree.