Mykola RYZHYE

Mykola was born in the village of Mykhailivka, Odesa region. In May 2022, he began working on the railway as a trackman of the 3rd category at the Odessa-Sorting station.

In July 2022, Mykola joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He served as an infantryman in the 17th Battalion of the 57th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade named after the Cossack Ataman Kosty Hordiienko. He was on the front line from the very beginning until the end.

33-year-old Mykola Ryzhye was killed on October 8, 2022, near the village of Davydiv Brid in the Kherson region. He gave his life shielding wounded comrades from enemy advances.

His mother recalls that he had said since childhood that he would grow up to be a hero. His partner remembers his kind heart: he was very caring and quickly bonded with her children, who began to call him dad. Mykola loved animals dearly, always brought them food, and even bought sausage with his last cash for a stray cat, which he later took home. Colleagues remember him as a wonderful friend who would share his last crumb of bread.

Mykola is survived by his mother, his partner, and her sons.

The team of the Odesa Railway Track Division of JSC "Ukrzaliznytsia" honors their colleague with indescribable pride and deep sorrow. A trackman with an incredibly kind heart, who loved animals and was a wonderful friend and father, fell as a Hero-infantryman. His self-sacrifice and purity of soul are an everlasting example of humanity and courage. Eternal Glory to the Hero!