Mykola Ponomarenko

Mykola Ponomarenko was born in the village of Velyka Motovylivka in the Kyiv region. He worked for 27 years at Ukrzaliznytsia as a mechanic repairing rolling stock at the Kyiv-Pasazhyrskyi railway depot.

On February 24, 2022, Mykola was at work. The next day, he stood by the military enlistment office. That day, he was not drafted due to a lack of weapons for all those willing. However, he patrolled daily and served in the territorial defense, eager to be of help to his hometown in its darkest hour.

By March 8, Mykola Ponomarenko, along with his comrades in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, was heading to defend Chernihiv. Then came Bakhmut and other hellish places. He served as the commander of a machine gun platoon in the infantry company. Everyone respected him because he never faltered and was always at the forefront.

50-year-old junior sergeant Mykola Ponomarenko was killed on May 10, 2024, near the village of Nevske in the Luhansk region as a result of an enemy attack.

Mykola is survived by his wife and two sons. His son Anatoliy is also currently defending Ukraine.

The Kyiv-Pasazhyrskyi railway depot and the entire railway family are deeply saddened by the news of the death of our colleague, junior sergeant Mykola Ponomarenko. We share in the grief of his wife and sons, one of whom is also bravely defending the Motherland.