Yaroslav S. Malandii (Aliam-Baliam)

40-year-old senior soldier Yaroslav Malandiy (call sign Alam-Balam) was killed on May 19, 2023 in a battle with the occupiers near the city of Avdiivka in Donetsk region. During the enemy artillery shelling, the fighter received fatal injuries. Yaroslav was born and lived in the city of Sumy. He studied at school No. 19. Then he graduated from Sumy Vocational School No. 2 and obtained the profession of a crane operator. He worked at a local factory, then became a driver. In his free time, he loved to go mushroom picking and fishing. In 2016, the man joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine to defend his Homeland. He participated in the Anti-Terrorist Operation, was a driver-electrician in the 58th separate motorized infantry brigade. Since 2019, he has held the position of senior driver of the motorized infantry unit. "Throughout the years, Yaroslav's military dog, a pitbull nicknamed Kharis, served with him. On March 23, 2020, during the execution of a combat mission, a shell hit the car Yaroslav was driving. This dog covered Yaroslav, saving his life that time. My husband was able to pull his comrade out of the damaged vehicle. As a sign of gratitude to Kharis for saving his life, he brought home his puppy, which was named Kima. During his service, Yaroslav had many concussions. But after the injuries he received that day, the man was discharged from military service," the warrior's wife said. On February 24, 2022, Yaroslav joined the Sumy Territorial Defense and went to defend the country from the occupiers. Later, he joined the ranks of the Separate Presidential Brigade named after Hetman Bohdan Khmelnytsky. He was the gunner of the mechanized unit. Together with his comrades-in-arms, he defended Ukraine on various hot fronts. During his service, the warrior was awarded the medals "For the Defense of the Native State" and "For Loyalty to the Oath". "Yaroslav was a wonderful person, he always came to help everyone, he was very brave and sensitive. There was nothing he couldn't do. We miss him very much with our daughter," the woman added. The hero was buried in the Alley of Glory of the Baranivsky cemetery in his native Sumy. At home, Yaroslav was awaited by his wife Olena and daughter Kamila.