Serhii H. Kovaliov (Koval)

Sergeant Serhii Kovalov (call sign Koval) was killed on June 21, 2023 near the village of Novomykhailivka in the Donetsk region. During the performance of a combat mission, he received fatal injuries as a result of enemy artillery shelling. The defender was 34 years old. Serhii was born in Mykolaiv. He obtained incomplete higher education at the Mykolaiv branch of the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. The last two years he lived with his family in Voznesensk, Mykolaiv region. In peaceful life, he was a farmer, engaged in growing vegetables for sale. In his free time, he loved to fish and relax with his family. During the full-scale war, in September 2022, the man joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He served in the 79th Separate Airmobile Brigade. He held the position of squad commander of the mortar platoon of the fire support company. Together with his comrades-in-arms, he defended Donetsk region from the occupiers. "Serhii was an honest, decent person. He was always ready to help others. His family was always his top priority. He was a loving husband and father. We miss him very much," said the wife of the fallen soldier. The paratrooper was buried in Voznesensk, Mykolaiv region. Serhii is survived by his wife Olena, daughter Ksenia, who was 6 years old at the time of her father's death, and other relatives, friends and comrades-in-arms.