Oleksandr V. Ilchenko (Okhotnik)

Combat medic Oleksandr Ilchenko (call sign "Okhotnyk) was killed on May 11, 2022, while carrying out a combat mission near the settlement of Toshkivka in the Luhansk region. During an enemy artillery shelling, he sustained a blast injury and a gunshot shrapnel wound. The defender was 47 years old. Oleksandr was born in the settlement of Hoshcha in the Rivne region. After finishing the 9th grade, he enrolled in the Kvasyliv Vocational School No. 16, where he trained as a plasterer and tile setter. He did not serve in the army due to health issues. In 1996, he married his beloved Valentyna. The couple later had two children. From the first days of the full-scale Russian invasion, on February 27, 2022, Oleksandr took up the defense of Ukraine. He served as a combat medic in the 42nd Battalion of the 57th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade named after the ataman Kosty Hordiienko. Together with his comrades, he defended Luhansk. “We were happy and immensely in love. In our love, our daughter Olha and son Dmytro were born. Sasha was a husband and father from God. Family and children always came first. For our well-being, he worked hard. He could do everything. He was respected. He often went abroad for work to finish building our house. He had many friends. He was passionate about hunting. He handled weapons very well and was a good hunter. Everyone knew of his determination and fearlessness. Without hesitation, he took up arms to protect us and our native land. And now he watches over us from the heavens…” Valentyna recounts. “A fearless and brave warrior, a reliable friend, a man of his word, a model of resilience and strength of spirit. Oleksandr honorably fulfilled the important mission of defending Ukraine, remaining faithful to his oath, his country, and the Ukrainian people until his last breath. By defending and protecting the right of Ukrainians to live in a safe and peaceful country, he gave his life without regret…” the Hoshcha village council notes. The hero is survived by his wife, daughter, and son. Posthumously, soldier Oleksandr Ilchenko was awarded the Order of Courage of the III degree. The defender was buried in his hometown of Hoshcha. On September 30, 2022, the street where Oleksandr Ilchenko grew up was renamed in his honor.