Ruslan V. Yelahin (Khorvat)

Sergeant Ruslan Yelagin (call sign Horvat) was killed on December 28, 2023 in a battle with enemy saboteurs near the village of Kucherivka in the Sumy region. He would have turned 47 years old on January 2. Ruslan was born in the city of Sorokyne in the Luhansk region. He spent most of his life in the city of Rovenky in the Luhansk region. He graduated from the Rovenky Mining College. He was involved in sports his entire life: boxing and wrestling. In recent years, he worked as a sales representative. Since 2014, he has taken a patriotic position and supported Ukrainian defenders. Eventually, he and his family were forced to move to Transcarpathia - to the city of Uzhhorod. This city became a second home for the man. There, a third child was born in the family, and the couple got married. With the start of the full-scale invasion, Ruslan voluntarily joined the army. He became a fighter of the 101st separate brigade of the Territorial Defense Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He was the commander of a reconnaissance platoon reconnaissance squad. Comrades-in-arms gave him this call sign because Ruslan had a towel with the inscription "Croatia". "For friends and loved ones, he will always remain the best of the best. Always smiling, with faith in the future. A person who will never refuse, will always come to help. A friend with a capital letter. For his parents, this is an irreparable loss... There are no words to describe the heartache that fills them. Ruslan bravely defended the country. He was a reliable comrade-in-arms, a fearless warrior, devoted to his principles and values until his last breath. He was and will remain a hero to each of us... For me, you are the heart, the air and the wings. You are the one who does not let me fall, always supports. You are my universe, you are my hero, you are our support forever. Thank you for our boundless love, deep and unique. You are an example for your sons, an example of courage, wisdom, dedication and purposefulness. I loved, love and will love you, my dear Horvat!" - wrote the wife of the fallen Lyudmyla. The defender was buried at the Glory Hill cemetery "Kalvariya" in Uzhhorod. Ruslan is survived by his parents, wife and three sons.