Ruslan I. Shyrkov (Smail)

20-year-old soldier Ruslan Shirkov (call sign Smile) was killed on January 8, 2023 near the village of Vremivka in the Donetsk region. During the performance of a combat mission, he sustained a fatal mine-explosive injury as a result of enemy mortar fire. Ruslan was from the city of Dobropillia in the Donetsk region. He studied at the lyceum of his hometown and music school No. 1. He grew up as a creative and talented individual. He sang very well and played musical instruments. He could solve any technical problem and came to the aid of everyone. He knew everything about computers. He enrolled in the part-time form of study at the Physical and Technical Institute of the National Technical University of Ukraine "Kyiv Polytechnic Institute named after I. Sikorsky". He worked with his father, together they did repairs in apartments on order. When the full-scale war began, the young man was studying in the 2nd year, but left his studies and joined the ranks of the National Guard of Ukraine. He served in the special forces reconnaissance platoon in the OSSP "Azov". He was a 2nd category sniper. "Ruslan was a very sincere and responsible person. He did a lot for me. He always protected and defended me from all the bad things around. I miss him very much..." said his beloved Dasha Pyltyai. The National Guard soldier was buried at the Krasnopilsky cemetery in Dnipro. Ruslan is survived by his parents, brother, sister, girlfriend, other relatives, friends and comrades-in-arms.