Oleksandr Mahkov he was a war veteran and journalist in Kyiv. He arrived in the Ukrainian capital in 2015, months after Russian troops invaded Crimea. At the end of February, during the Kremlin’s first bombing of Ukrainian soil, he quit his job as a reporter and join the Army. He wanted to defend his land. Your home. This Wednesday is killed in a new attack of Vladimir Putin’s forces in Ukraine.

Mahkov was “a journalist with talent who decided to opt for the defense of the homeland, “said the National Information Agency of Ukraine (Ukrinform), which confirmed the news of the death. So they told him “Ukrainian Maradona” and wore the image of soccer star with tattoo.

The young man, who hails from Luhansk, worked on the Dom and Ukraine 24 television channels. Through a growing number of sporadic Facebook posts, he recounted the daily Russia-Ukraine war. And, from the front, he also proposed to his partner, Anastasia Blyshchyk.

Mahkov died by a bombing Russian to Izium, a city located about 500 kilometers east of kyiv. In recent hours, the Kremlin has intensified the offensive in that town, in the Donbas and Kharkov regions.

“Patriot, sincere, one of the bravest”, was referred to by President Volodimir Zelenski, who paid tribute to him. And he promised Vladyslav, his son, that “the russians will pay he was responsible for the murder.

Sasha, named Oleksandr, already knew the hardships of war. Until Russia’s advance in Crimea, he lived Luhansk, a city with nearly 500 thousand inhabitants that is part of the Donetsk mining enclave. Since 2014 it has been one of the separatist territories at the center of the dispute between Russia and Ukraine.

The attack forced Mahkov to leave his home and settle in the capital. I always think of coming back: he first introduced himself as a war chronicler and in 2015 he joined the Army.

In kyiv, since the beginning of 2022, as part of the first group of reservists, he has been waiting for the call to return to the east in case the invasion of Vladimir Putin’s army comes true.

In reports before the start of the war, He showed the bag he had ready to attend the call. He also participated in training talks for new members of the Ukrainian troop.

He wanted to return to his hometown to find out, he recounted in reports, if the tree on which he carved his name as a child.

A Maradonian chronicler

He is an experienced chronicler. He reported on the conflict in the Donbas eight years ago, visited Antarctica, traveled to Congo with peace missions and was one of the few journalists who participated in the repatriation of foreigners in wuhanthe city in China where the coronavirus pandemic began.

In his free time he liked sports. This is football fans. “For as long as I can remember I ran after the ball. I was one of the best in Luhansk,” he wrote on Facebook. His skill earned him a nickname.

“Because of my small stature, black hair and talent, men They called me ‘Maradona’. or abbreviated ‘mara’Mahkov said. He said that in 2017 he visited Argentina and fell in love with Bombonera.

Born in 1986, apparently born under the Maradonian sign, he decided to take Diego Maradona anywhere with him: he tattoos it on his calf.

An athlete, in recent months he has found a new passion for his free time: running. In September he finished his first half marathon officer. She happily posed, with a medal and the t-shirt in the mouth.

A proposal with a grenade

Now, on his journey into the heart of Ukraine’s defense, he tried to interact with his Facebook account on the day of the conflict.

“Every day feels like someone shaking a kaleidoscope. Events are changing at a crazy pace. Every new day brings new adventures, “he said in the heat of the war. Lately, his posts have become more sporadic.

On April 17, he celebrated his 36th birthday up front. He posed with a soccer ball. “On my birthday I was among the bravest people in the country. It is an honor to defend my country with them,” the journalist wrote. With the right foot I tried to make a game. with the right hand he was holding his machine gun.

Twelve days before he sent a very special video to his partner. Wearing camouflage clothing, weapon in hand again, he was holding a grenade. His finger was in the ring, ready to move. But I never thought to release it.

At the end of the video he knelt on the dirty floor and made his own marriage proposal to Anastasia Blyshchyk. “In stand-up style,” she joked, sharing the images on the networks. “How I got it a pomegranate ring instead of a wedding ring“, wrote.

However, the danger looms and, with another Kremlin offensive, concern is also growing.

Mahkov showed, just six days ago, a cut on one arm. “Hard battles. Somewhat hurt by shrapnel. I’m hold up well. Before marriage all wounds will heal!“, he wrote to his girlfriend. A new Russian attack has ruined his plans.

Anastasia had already expressed her concern over Oleksandr’s silence. “The longest we haven’t seen each other is 2 and a half weeks. Now marks 68 days,” the girl said.

“I endured a month and a half, I tried to limit communication to those constantly growling and hysterical. I’m afraid I might lose my morale. “

“Now Sasha rarely interacts. It’s hell out there. I don’t always know what’s wrong with him. So every question I get about Sasha … It kills me. “

Upon confirmation of Mahkov’s murder, he again appeared on Facebook, where he received thousands of words of love. “I can’t believe it! This can’t be the truth! My Sasha wanted to live! And she’s still alive! Please tell me this is a mistake!” sad message from Anastasia.

DS