Oleksii S. Lakhnovskyi (Riorik)

Senior soldier Oleksiy Lakhnovskyi (call sign Riorik) was killed on October 14, 2023 near the village of Novodanilivka in the Zaporizhzhia region. For two days, together with his comrades-in-arms, he successfully repelled enemy assaults on the just-occupied position. However, on the third day, he received a serious injury. According to his relatives, when the occupiers entered the position, they shot the soldier. In September, he turned 28 years old. Oleksiy was born in the village of Tavrichanka, Kherson region. He received secondary education. He was married. Since 2018, he had been living with his family in the village of Vilkhivka in Zakarpattia. The family had a household. In 2020, the firstborn was born, and two years later - the second son. The man worked mainly abroad. He spent his free time with his family and friends. He was also passionate about sports. In the first days of the full-scale invasion, Oleksiy joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He fought in the ranks of the 128th Separate Mountain Assault Brigade. He was a grenade launcher squad leader. In June 2022, he received the medal "Defender of the Fatherland". "My husband was courageous and heroic. He could not stand aside, in the first days he voluntarily went to defend Ukraine and all of us. He loved life very much. He loved everyone, he had many friends, and people took an example from him. He always believed in our victory and even with a serious injury after the operation, with an implant in his leg, he went to fight the aggressor country again. He was the best husband and the best father for his children," said the wife of the fallen defender. The hero was buried in the village of Vilkhivka in Zakarpattia. At home, Oleksiy was awaited by his wife Maryna, sons Demyan and Ihor.