The cruel and bloody war that russia triggered in 2014 and expanded three years ago on the territory of independent Ukraine claims lives of the brightest representatives of the Ukrainian nation every day. Hardly a day goes by without sad and tragic news from the front. Unfortunately, war takes the best people! Those who loved and believed in their country, in its bright and peaceful future, as well as in the dreamed and desired Victory with all their hearts!

Nevertheless, we, those who miraculously continue to live in conditions of daily shelling and enemy attacks, must remember and daily be grateful each and every one, thanks to whom we still live under blue and yellow flag! After all, in times of great losses, the reminder of each Hero is very valuable. Even the smallest one. The worst thing that can happen is to simply remain silent and accept the numbers.

At the same time, it is difficult to find words that would express all the gratitude and not seem overly pretentious. Because such a big “thank you” does not yet exist in the Universe and an ordinary one is definitely not enough! However, is no doubt, Ukrainians and all future generations are eternally indebted to our Heroes. Therefore, we must ensure that the memory of them lives forever!

Our today’s Guardian of the Light Oleksandr Synelnykov died in heavy battles near Kupyansk on December 4, 2023. However, the memory of him, of his heroism and courage lives in our hearts. Together with his wife Olha, we have walked the paths of the Hero’s life from the first to the last day.

The Defender of Ukraine was born in the city of Kyiv on August 14, 1990. He studied at Lyceum No. 75, received his higher education at Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute: in 2012 he received a bachelor’s degree, and in 2014 he graduated from the Department of Machine Design of the Mechanical Engineering Institute and received a specialist’s diploma.

In his teens, Oleksandr was active and athletic. He was involved in boxing, ran marathons, loved riding a bicycle, and played football, which occupied a special place in his life.

“It was his love for football and unshakeable faith in Dynamo that inspired Oleksandr to participate in football-related events,” his wife Olha shares with a smile. “At such moments, he was really happy, and he taught his children that for happiness they needed to love mother, father, and Dynamo!”

Our Hero has two children: a boy, Daniil, from his first marriage, and a girl, Valeria, from his second one. Oleksandr Synelnykov met his daughter’s mother in the company of his institute friends.

“Once I broke my leg,” Olha recalls. “That’s when we started communicating more actively. He supported me throughout that entire rehabilitation period, and on the day of discharge, he came with a huge bouquet of white roses. That is how the story of our family began. With love and care.

Sasha really loved long walks around the city, so every evening we had another trip around the capital planned and explored new routes. He always repeated that Kyiv was the best place on earth. My husband also loved to read, and he always took a book with him on any travel or business trip. Even to war.
Sasha wanted to fight for his native land when russia first attacked Ukraine, but getting married and giving birth to our Valeriia postponed that decision until the full-scale invasion.”

In civilian life, Oleksandr Synelnykov was a leading engineer in Seismic Assessment Department of the branch “SS “Scientific and Technical Center”, JSC “NNEGC “Energoatom”.

“Sasha always wanted to design something new,” Olha recalls. “He sought to be useful to his country and city. Everyone around him felt that energy and saw how his eyes warmed with life’s work. Friends called him the “iron man,” because Tony Stark was Oleksandr’s favorite hero.”
Then a great war came into the life of the nuclear employee. Despite his position in an industry important for the functioning of the country, from the first days of the full-scale war, the defender took up arms and joined the ranks of the Pechersk Territorial Defense. After the liberation of the Kyiv region, he defended his homeland in the ranks of the 205th separate battalion of the Territorial Defense.

“He made that decision on his own, without consulting anyone,” Olha explains. “On February 25, he went to the military enlistment office and informed us after the fact. He said that he understood that it would be difficult for us, so he did not want to be refused. We understood and supported him.”

In August 2022, our Hero participated in the battles for Bakhmut, in September – for Soledar. On that front, he was wounded and concussed; the shall fragment from his leg was never removed. In January 2023, there were again battles for Bakhmut, and then the defender received a second wound, partially lost his sight. After a short rehabilitation, he returned to the front.

From May to June 2023, he got training in Germany. Later, he was promoted to company sergeant major. On November 11, 2023, he and his comrades were transferred to the Kupyansk direction, where heavy fighting took place for a long time. On December 3, he said goodbye to his family, and the next day, December 4, Oleksandr Synelnykov heroically died near Kupyansk.

“On December 6, we were notified… At that moment, it was as if something had broken off, because we had spent a third of our lives together. Moreover, this abyss inside me I cannot sew up nor close with a jacket. I go to work with it, I drink coffee with it, and I smile at our daughter with it.

There is no physical quantity in the world that could measure the loss, but it is unbearably painful. Moreover, with this pain I continue to live on. I must confess, I am still waiting for a call from my beloved, for his message. Because, as Sasha quoted the Iron Man, “I love you from earth to heaven!” summed up Olha Synelnykova, the wife of the Hero and faithful son of Ukraine.

The lady thanked the defenders of Ukraine for their strength, courage and titanic work in extremely difficult conditions. She also wished each and every one to return home alive so that their family could hug them!

On December 25, 2024, war veteran Oleksandr Synelnykov was posthumously awarded the Order “For Courage” of the III degree.

We bow down before and express eternal respect for the Hero of Ukraine! Sincere condolences to family and friends!