Serhii O. Shtuka (Nova)

Serviceman Serhii Shtuka (call sign Nova) was killed on August 29, 2022 during the liberation of the Kherson region. Near the village of Myrne, the fighter received fatal injuries as a result of artillery shelling. The defender was 28 years old. Serhii was born and lived in the village of Lymany, Mykolaiv region. After school, he studied at the Mykolaiv Maritime Lyceum. Then he went on conscript military service. After demobilization, he signed a contract with the Armed Forces of Ukraine and went to war. Since then, he has participated in the Anti-Terrorist Operation / Joint Forces Operation in Donbas. He served in the 28th Separate Mechanized Brigade named after the Knights of the Winter Campaign. He was the commander of an infantry fighting vehicle. The man met the full-scale invasion together with his comrades-in-arms at the forefront and continued to defend Ukraine from the Russian invaders. "He was an amazing, courageous man. He has been defending his Homeland all these years. He was brave and courageous. He always came to help. He loved and respected his family, his loved ones and his comrades-in-arms very much. He was very much looking forward to the birth of his younger daughter. He heroically and with honor bore the title of a warrior and defender. Forever in our hearts. Heroes never die! And we, all his relatives and close ones, with honor and respect preserve the memory of him," wrote the deceased's cousin Yulia. The warrior was buried in his native village. Serhii is survived by his parents, wife, and two daughters. The second child was born after the death of the father.