Andriy Nikonchuk from Volodymyr-Volynskyi in Volyn served on a contract basis in the anti-aircraft missile regiment. On February 24, he was on combat duty near the city of Vyshhorod and, together with his comrades, covered the Kyiv HPP, an important strategic site. When enemy aircraft approached the anti-aircraft positions, they entered the battle. The aviation did not impress the Ukrainian positions. But soon the enemies decided to fire missiles at them. One of them exploded at the position of anti-aircraft gunners. Soldier Nikonchuk, who was engaged in combat operations to detect air targets until his last breath, died.
"Andriy was an extremely responsible and good guy," says Iryna Kostyuk, director of the Volodymyr-Volynska school, where the fighter has been studying since the 5th grade. "I always helped my grandmother, with whom I lived, on the farm."
Andrew's mother died early. His father and brother did not raise him. So the boys lived with their grandmother.
“My brother dreamed of taking care of children who lost their parents, because he himself grew up an orphan. He wanted to help orphanages, ”said Pavlo Nikonchuk, 28.
After school, Andriy graduated as an electric welder, then studied at a technical school and worked for eight years in the track brigade at the railway station in Kovel.
Friends say that Andriy was distinguished by his sense of humor, optimism and cheerfulness.
"He had a very beautiful smile and an invigorating laugh, so very sincere," says Andriy's friend Kateryna Peltz. "Andriy was a good friend, always ready to help."
Andrew participated in the Revolution of Dignity. And then he thought about serving in the army. "He later signed a contract with the Armed Forces. He chose missile troops. He said that he really liked military service, - recalls Andrew's brother. - February 24 was his first experience of participating in the Russian-Ukrainian war. In our last conversation, my brother said briefly, "Don't worry, everything will be fine." I tried to calm down ... ”
The first day of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine was fatal for Andriy. He died from a missile strike at a service position.
"However, this was not immediately known. I really hoped that he was alive, - says Kateryna. - I thought they just couldn't find him. And then he wrote to me and his brother Andrew. Reported death. It was very difficult, I did not sleep all night, I cried. It is bitter to lose such good people ... ”
The President posthumously awarded him the title of Hero of Ukraine.
BY THE WAY
Anti-aircraft missile forces - a type of troops designed to provide cooperation with other types of air defense of important administrative and political centers, industrial and economic areas, groups of the Armed Forces and other important facilities.
Russian invaders have lost 17 thousand people since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine - the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
Through the battles of the city of Kiev, I will renew two high-voltage lines to revive a part of the houses on the right birch of the capital
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