Oleksii S. Latyshenko (Malysh)

Sergeant Oleksii Latyshenko (call sign Malysh) was killed on February 29, 2024, in a firefight with the occupiers near the village of Synkivka in the Kharkiv region. He was 34 years old, having turned 34 just 5 days prior. Oleksii was from the city of Zaporizhzhia. He graduated from school No. 68, then studied at vocational school No. 27. He worked as a lathe operator at an enterprise. He was passionate about cars, particularly repairing and reconstructing them. In his free time, he enjoyed relaxing in nature, near rivers and ponds, and fishing. In 2014, he participated in the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO). When the full-scale war began, he again defended Ukraine from the enemy. Initially, Oleksii served in military unit A7090 as a machine gunner. Later, he fought in the ranks of the 10th Separate Mountain Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, holding the position of a grenadier in the 109th Battalion. During his entire service, he was wounded at the front four times. Oleksii was awarded the commemorative badge "6th Separate Battalion", distinctions "For Service to the State", "Participant of the ATO", and "For Exemplary Military Service" of the III degree. "This was my sunshine, whom his mother named Oleksii. I loved you, I love you, and I will love you," wrote Daria Dychko, the girlfriend of the fallen hero. The hero was buried in the village of Mykhailivka, Zaporizhzhia region. Oleksii is survived by his parents, brother, girlfriend, relatives, friends, and comrades-in-arms.