Oleksandr V. Tantsiura (Zhora)

Sergeant Major Oleksandr Tantsiura (call sign Old Man) was killed on March 23, 2022, in Mariupol, Donetsk region. During an artillery shelling, while carrying out a combat mission, he sustained injuries incompatible with life. The body of the defender was returned home on May 19, 2023. Oleksandr was born in the city of Lubny in the Poltava region. He stu at school No. 5. After the 8th grade, he entered Lubny Vocational Technical School No. 12. He trained as an electrician. He served in the military. He worked in his specialty at the enterprise "VALTEKS" and at a chemical-pharmaceutical factory, and was a security guard at a private firm. Since 2014, he fought as part of the Azov Regiment. He was a shooting instructor. He was injured twice. As a result, he lost sight in one eye and had poor hearing in one ear. In April 2022, he planned to demobilize. But a full-scale war began. Oleksandr continued to fight. Together with his comrades, he defended the city of Mariupol. He was awarded honors for participating in the anti-terrorist operation, for the defense of Mariupol, the medal "Defender of Mariupol," the "Knight's Cross of the Volunteer" order from the All-Ukrainian Union of ATO Veterans, the Azov Regiment award "Shyrokyne Operation," and orders "For Courage" of the III and II degrees. His last award was given posthumously. "His mother, Paraskovia Klymivna, is 80 years old. She is deeply grieving the loss of her son. She recalls that Sasha was kind from a young age and got along with everyone. He adored bicycles, cars, fishing, and loved going mushroom picking. He was a patriot of his country. He often said, 'I have Cossack blood running through my veins.' Since 2014, he went to defend the country. Comrades remember that Oleksandr was always positive. Even when he sustained a severe abdominal injury, he smiled and reassured his friends: 'Everything will be fine.' However, the injury turned out to be incompatible with life. His mother learned of her son's death over the phone from the Azov patronage service. She could not believe it for a long time, let alone come to terms with it. She underwent an exhausting DNA test that lasted 10 months. The body could only be brought home after 1 year and 3 months. When Sasha was buried, his comrades came. Literally for a few hours, to pay their respects. They said they respected and valued Oleksandr. They listened to him, knowing that the Old Man would never give bad advice or let anyone down. He was always the life of the party. His mother says that he embo an extraordinary love for people, a peaceful nature, and an irreconcilable hatred for enemies. Above all, he loved Ukraine. His son Serhiy, upon learning of his father's death, immediately went to fight. He took his call sign "Old Man." But he suffered concussions and injuries and is now discharged from the Armed Forces of Ukraine," says Valentina Savchenko, a specialist in the sector for working with self-organization bodies of the Lubny City Council. Oleksandr was buried in the Alley of Glory at the Novakyvsky Cemetery in Lubny. He is survived by his mother, two daughters, three sons, and three grandchildren.