Oleksandr V. Shkurko

Born on February 7, 1979, in the urban-type settlement of Krasnopillia, Sumy region. In 1996, he graduated from the general education school of the urban-type settlement of Krasnopillia. Since 1996, he has been in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In 2000, he graduated from the Military Institute of Artillery named after Bohdan Khmelnytsky at Sumy State University (city of Sumy) with a degree in "Engineering Mechanics." From June 2000 to September 2003, he served as the commander of the artillery battalion of the 229th Guards Mechanized Regiment of the 72nd Guards Mechanized Red Banner, Suvorov, and Kutuzov Division of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (city of Bila Tserkva, Kyiv region). From September 2003 to 2005, he was the commander of the artillery battery, from 2005 to December 2012 - the chief of staff - first deputy commander of the artillery battalion, in 2012-201? years - senior assistant to the chief of artillery, from 201? year - senior assistant to the chief of staff of the 55th Separate Brigade Artillery Group of the 72nd Separate Guards Mechanized Red Banner Brigade of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (city of Bila Tserkva, Kyiv region). Since May 1, 2014, he participated in the anti-terrorist operation in eastern Ukraine. On July 26, 2014, during an attempt to break out of encirclement at the border with the Russian Federation, the vehicle, in which Major Shkurko and Captain Romanchuk were, was ambushed by Russian-terrorist groups in the area of the village of Tarany, Shakhtarsky district, Donetsk region. During the battle, both officers sustained serious injuries and were captured, after which they were taken to a hospital in the city of Snizhne, Donetsk region. On August 5, 2014, the heavily wounded Major Shkurko was taken from the hospital by terrorists, taken to a church for confession, after which he was killed and buried on the outskirts of the city of Snizhne. On December 10, 2015, he was reburied at the Alley of Glory in the "Sukhyi Yar" cemetery in the city of Bila Tserkva, Kyiv region. On May 4, 2016, a memorial plaque was unveiled on the facade of the building of the general education school (1 Peremoha Street) in the urban-type settlement of Krasnopillia, Sumy region, where Oleksandr Shkurko studied.