Oleksandr Ostapets

Ostapets Oleksandr Volodymyrovych, a railway worker with a quarter-century of experience and a grenade launcher with the call sign "Vakula," will forever be remembered as a master who could tame metal and defend his homeland. For a year and a half, his fate remained unknown, but in 2026, a terrible confirmation arrived: Oleksandr was killed on August 25, 2024, while carrying out a combat mission near the village of Karlivka in the Pokrovsk direction. He was 46 years old.

Oleksandr was born on August 14, 1978, in the city of Nizhyn. His life was closely intertwined with his native land, which he built during peacetime and went to defend on the very first day of the great war.

Oleksandr dedicated over 24 years to railway transport. His professional journey was filled with hard work and continuous development. In February 2000, he began working as a trackman.

He worked as an assistant driver and later as a driver of complex repair and adjustment machinery.

Since April 2015, Oleksandr found his calling in the workshop, becoming a blacksmith on hammers and presses. Blacksmithing was not just a job for him; it was a true passion. What once was a hobby turned into a lifelong vocation.

His professional creations still adorn various corners of Nizhyn—an eternal mark of his "golden hands" and sincere heart.

Oleksandr Volodymyrovych was among those who did not wait for an invitation when the Motherland was in danger.

On February 24, 2022, he joined the Territorial Defense Forces to protect his hometown of Nizhyn.

On March 9, 2022, he was officially mobilized into the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He served as a grenade launcher in the Territorial Defense Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Receiving the call sign "Vakula" in honor of his peaceful profession, he dealt devastating blows to the occupiers in the hottest areas of the front, bravely holding the defense until his last breath.

Colleagues from the Nizhyn railway district remember Oleksandr as an exceptionally reliable friend and the true soul of the team. He was always ready to lend a helping hand, share advice, or provide support in difficult times.

Oleksandr left behind a large family: a father, a mother, a wife, and a daughter. He was a loving son and father who dreamed of a peaceful future and the realization of many bright plans after victory.

The team of the Nizhyn railway district of the "South-Western Railway" expresses deep condolences to Oleksandr Ostapets' family. We have lost not just a professional colleague but a loyal son of Ukraine who gave the most precious thing for its freedom—his life.

His forged works will remind us of his talent, and his heroism will remind us of the price of our independence.

Eternal memory and glory to the Hero!