Mykola Pelekhatyi

Senior Soldier Mykola Pelekhatyi, callsign Vasylovych, was killed on July 28, 2022, in Olenivka, Donetsk region, when the russian army blew up a barrack holding Ukrainian prisoners of war. He was 61 years old.

Mykola was born on October 20, 1960, in the village of Slobidka-Okhrimovetska, Khmelnytskyi region. After finishing school, he trained as a driver at a vocational school in Kamianets-Podilskyi. Later, he got married, and the couple had a son, Viktor. When the boy was 12, Mykola’s wife passed away, and from then on, he raised his son alone.

In the summer of 2000, Mykola worked as a rescuer in the local emergency service (SES) department in Berdiansk. It was then that he met his future wife, Iryna. On April 4, 2003, they officially married, and the following month their son Maksym was born.

In 2006, Mykola retired and opened his own car repair shop, where he personally repaired all kinds of vehicles.

“When the war began, Kolia and Vitia repaired military vehicles for volunteer battalions free of charge. In 2015, Vitia joined the Azov Regiment, and four months later, Kolia followed him. He was 55 at the time. At first, Kolia repaired Azov’s vehicles in his own workshop, and later, a repair unit was established at the base in Urzuf, where he served as the senior mechanic for automotive equipment,” said Iryna.

In 2020, Vasylovych’s contract with the regiment ended. Mykola was already 60 years old.

“They considered releasing him from service because of his age and health,” Iryna said. “But he passed the medical commission himself without paying anyone a bribe. His blood pressure was perfect — fit for space travel. So he signed another three-year contract with Azov.”

For a time, Vasylovych served together with his son Viktor, callsign Dyzel, until Viktor transferred from the repair unit to the 2nd Battalion. Iryna noticed how much her husband worried — Vasylovych also wanted not just to turn wrenches, but to fight on the front line. Eventually, his wish came true.

Mykola and Viktor faced the full-scale invasion together in Mariupol. Dyzel was killed on March 21, at the age of 33. In May, Vasylovych was captured after leaving the Azovstal steel plant. On July 28, the russian army blew up the barrack in Olenivka where Ukrainian POWs were held.

“Almost right after the invasion began, my husband’s phone broke. During all 86 days in Mariupol, I didn’t hear his voice once. He called from captivity in Olenivka shortly before he was killed. His voice sounded as if it came from an underground cell — heavy and subdued. The optimism he had in the first days of the war was completely gone. The call lasted only 40 seconds,” shared Iryna.

A farewell ceremony for the defender was held on June 1, 2023, in Kyiv. The funeral service took place in St. Michael’s Golden-Domed Cathedral. The urn with Vasylovych’s ashes rests in the columbarium wall at the Lukianivske Military Cemetery.

Posthumously, Mykola Pelekhatyi was awarded the Order “For Courage,” 3rd Class.

At home, he was mourned by his wife Iryna and son Maksym.

In May 2024, Iryna honored her beloved husband by climbing Mount Khomiak (1,542 meters) in his memory.

Source: Memorial

Contributors: Sophia Yakivtsiv and Tetiana Spindel (translators), Liena Shulika (designer)