Yehor V. Zhelnin (Brytva)

48-year-old medical service captain Yehor Zhelnin (call sign azor) was killed on August 17, 2023, in the area of the settlement of Khromove in the Donetsk region. During the evacuation of the wounded, while under artillery and mortar fire from the enemy, he covered one of the soldiers with his body and suffered fatal injuries. Yehor was born and lived in Kharkiv. He graduated from the Kharkiv National Medical University, obtained a degree in dentistry. After completing his internship at the Kharkiv Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education, he specialized as a dental surgeon. In 2007, he defended his dissertation and became a Candidate of Medical Sciences. He also graduated from the Kharkiv Institute of Banking of the University of Banking of the National Bank of Ukraine with a degree in "Banking". Since 1991, he has worked as a dental surgeon. In 2020-2023, he was an associate professor at the Department of Dentistry of the V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University. He was interested in cold weapons, history, and travel. In the first days of the full-scale war, the man joined the 113th Separate Brigade of the Territorial Defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He served in the 209th Battalion and did what he did best - saved military personnel. During his service, he was awarded the medal "For Courage in Battle". "I can say with confidence that my father was an extraordinary person. In addition to being caring, responsible, sensitive, always smiling and a sincere friend, colleague, and family man, on February 24, 2022, 2 hours after the start of the full-scale invasion, he voluntarily joined the ranks of the Kharkiv Territorial Defense. Because he knew he had to protect his loved ones and the Motherland. In over 1.5 years of the war, he saved the lives of 7 of his comrades-in-arms, always helped his partners and immediately went to the hottest spots to rescue other soldiers. That's why my father earned respect and fame as a person and a combat medic who sought to save every life in the most dangerous parts of the front, where not everyone agreed to go. For all of us, he will forever be a Hero," said the deceased's elder son Valerii. The officer was buried in the Alley of Glory of cemetery No. 18 in his hometown. Yehor left behind his mother, wife, two sons, other relatives, friends, and comrades-in-arms.