Oleksandr V. Ovod (Kurier)

Soldier Oleksandr Ovod (call sign Courier) was killed on January 4, 2024 near the settlement of Nevelske in the Donetsk region. During the performance of a combat mission, he suffered a fatal explosive injury. On December 29, the warrior turned 48 years old. Oleksandr was born and lived in Kyiv. In 1993, he graduated from a vocational school in the capital and obtained the profession of a machine assembly worker. In 2000, he entered the Faculty of Economics at the Kyiv Institute of International Economics and Entrepreneurship, but did not have time to finish it, because after the 2nd year, having already two daughters, he had to provide for the family. He loved to drive and listen to music loudly. At home, he made his own music corner, which his relatives now call the "dad's museum", with various music systems, speakers, and discs. He collected discs and vinyl records, old-model cars, and silver coins. In recent years, he worked at "Nova Poshta" and was a manager at the Kyiv Innovation Terminal. That's where his call sign Courier" came from. The man was mobilized into the Armed Forces of Ukraine on March 29, 2023. He served in the 59th separate motorized infantry brigade named after Yakov Handziuk. He held the position of a driver-mechanic of the BMP-2 in the 10th battalion. "Dad, without hesitation, with dignity, stood up to defend the state. He still had many plans that he did not have time to implement. He dreamed of buying a new cool car, very much wanted to attend the weddings of his daughters, and was waiting for grandchildren, because he loved children very much. Dad did not have military experience, but I know that he went for us, for his family. He loved his daughters very much and dreamed that we would have the best. He very much liked to watch our achievements. He was very hardworking. He never stood aside from other people's problems: he helped as much as he could, he was very sensitive. I remember his warm smile and sincere jokes. He was always positive, never upset, and tried to improve everyone's mood. A very good father, he never refused us anything, he tried to spoil his girls as much as possible. And a very good son, the pain of the mother from the loss of the only son is impossible to express in words. Dad always wrote to me: 'I don't want to leave you, but I'm here so that you can sleep peacefully.' I love him very much and miss him... A person with a capital letter, who had an ordinary life, but gave it for our independence, the independence of our state. Dad is forever 48..." - said the younger daughter of the deceased, Diana. Oleksandr was buried at the Berkovets cemetery in Kyiv. He is survived by his parents, sister, wife and two daughters.