The father did not let her go to the front because she had a small child. Let's remember Yaroslava Nikonenko.

Every day at 9 a.m., Ukrainians honor the memory of all whose lives were taken by the Russo-Ukrainian war. Today, we remember Yaroslava Nikonenko. 

Yaroslava Nikonenko died on October 15, 2019, in Mariinka, Donetsk region, from a treacherous enemy sniper bullet. This was reported by the 101st separate brigade of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine named after Colonel General Henadiy Vorobyov.

Yaroslava was born on August 25, 1983, in Mirhorod, Poltava region. After school, she obtained two higher education degrees and worked as an economist in one of Kyiv's restaurants. She earned well, bought an apartment, and planned to move her daughter Sofia, born in 2006, to live with her. Sofia had been living with her grandparents in Mirhorod and only spent weekends and holidays with her mother. However, war broke out...

In 2014, Yaroslava's father, Serhiy Nikonenko, along with his younger daughter Bohdana, went to the front as volunteers in the Aidar battalion. He forbade his elder daughter from fighting because she had a small child. But in January 2015, he died in Trojizbenka, and there was no one left to forbid.

Yaroslava joined the DUC 'Right Sector', underwent training in 'Desna', served in intelligence, and fought in the area of the 'Butivka' mine.

'It was hell at Butivka,' recalls Bohdana. 'I was also nearby at that Time. I was familiar with Yaroslava's commander; we often saw each other. But I didn't know that my sister was serving under him. And everyone was silent. We had just buried our father, and our mother needed to be protected. Why should she know that both daughters are serving at the front? 'Say you are at the headquarters,' – I instructed my sister.'

In 2016, Yaroslava returned to Kyiv, completed two sniper schools and leadership courses. In 2018, she signed a contract with the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Initially, her place of service was the Separate Presidential Regiment, then she transferred to the 101st brigade of the General Staff. She served in Kyiv at the headquarters but constantly requested to go to the front lines and somehow managed to get a transfer to the front. She was assigned to the 28th Mechanized Brigade, which was then stationed in Mariinka. On September 28, 2019, the girl headed to Donbas.

Yaroslava Nikonenko died on October 15, 2019, in Mariinka, Donetsk region, from a gunshot wound to the head – it was reported that she was killed by an enemy sniper. She was buried in her hometown.

The defender left behind a daughter, a sister, and a mother. Posthumously awarded the Order 'For Courage' of the III degree.

We honor the memory

'Glavkom' joins the moment of silence. We honor the memory of all Ukrainians who died in the struggle for the Homeland. We remember those killed by the Russian invaders, light candles of memory, and bow our heads in mourning during the nationwide moment of silence, honoring the bright memory of citizens of Ukraine who gave their lives for the freedom and independence of the state: all soldiers, civilians, and children, all who died in the fight against Russian occupiers and as a result of enemy attacks on Ukrainian cities and villages.