Mykola Tkachev was born on March 8, 1983 in the village of Burlatske, Kryvyi Rih district, Dnipropetrovsk region. He grew up in a family with his mother and two older sisters. In 1998, he graduated from secondary school in the village of Vesele, then immediately went to work - he helped combine harvesters during the harvest to help his mother feed the family. He moved to Kryvyi Rih in 1998.
Participant of the ATO/JFO. He could not stay away from the events that took place in Ukraine since 2014, and therefore, in 2015, he entered military service under a contract in the 92nd separate mechanized brigade named after the Kosh Ataman Ivan Sirko. Mykola was well versed in the new E-4 armored personnel carriers, in all vehicles, both old and new. There was a period in his life when he worked as a taxi driver, and when he joined the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in 2015, fate again led him to cars, but larger, stronger, armored ones, which he gladly improved and repaired. And when Mykola went on a mission with his comrades, he humorously told the crew: «The taxi is ready!»
While still at school, he met his future wife, Yulia. They got married in 2019. They have a daughter, Maria. In his civilian life, he loved spending time with his family, always taking his wife and daughter with him everywhere. He loved to disassemble and repair cars, and helped others. In 2019, he moved with his wife, young daughter, and nephew to the city of Chuhuiv, Kharkiv region, where he served in the 92nd separate mechanized brigade named after the Kosh Ataman Ivan Sirko.
During the full-scale war, Mykola, as part of the 92nd Separate Mechanized Brigade named after the Kosh Ataman Ivan Sirko, defended the Kharkiv region from the Russian occupiers as an armored personnel carrier driver.
Mykola dreamed of education all his life. During 2019-2022, he studied at the Kryvyi Rih Center for Professional Education in Metallurgy and Mechanical Engineering. And on June 23, 2022, the day of his death, he officially received a diploma and finally obtained the specialty of an auto mechanic. However, he never had time to find out about it.
The defender is survived by his mother, wife, daughter, son, and two stepdaughters, whom he took care of. The family last saw Mykola on February 14, 2022. «He seemed to sense that trouble was coming, and so he sent us from the city of Chuhuiv to visit his parents in the Dnipropetrovsk region,» says his wife Yulia.
Circumstances of death:
In the summer of 2022, the fighters of the 92nd separate mechanized brigade fought fierce defensive battles in the Kharkiv region. The unit where Mykola Tkachev served was performing combat missions in the area of the village of Malynivka, Chuhuiv district. At that time, the enemy daily launched artillery and air strikes on the city of Chuhuiv and settlements around the city. On June 23, 2022, the unit where Mykola Tkachev served also came under another artillery attack. He, like several of his comrades, received shrapnel wounds incompatible with life.
Mykola Tkachev was buried on June 28, 2022, in the honorary burial section of the Central Cemetery in Kryvyi Rih, together with his nephew Ruslan Maidannik, with whom they died side by side.
The rural community of the village of Vesele honored the memory of Mykola with a memorial plaque at the school where he studied from grades 1 to 9. Mykola has 16 awards. Among them during his lifetime: "For the Defense of Avdiivka", "For the Defense of Happiness", "Participant in the ATO" 3 pieces, "For Courage and Heroism", 2 awards "For Service", "For Victory", "In Unity the Strength of the State", 2 medals of the 92nd Brigade, "Valor, Dignity, Honor". By the Decree of the President of Ukraine dated 12.07.2022 No. 493/2022, Mykola Tkachev was awarded the Order "For Courage" of the 3rd degree (posthumously).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0ViCTjXugo – link to the video about the burial of Mykola Tkachev.
From the memoirs of Mykola Tkachev's wife:
«"It's hard to say in two sentences about a person who was a whole world to all of us, who was my life. Mykola was cheerful, lively, kind, sincere, brave, selfless, intelligent. He had an inner core, but at the same time he was well-mannered and shy. His hobby was to help everyone and always. Very charismatic. He knew about technology, knew how to repair military equipment. Golden hands."»
«"It so happened that Mykola was not at any of his daughter Mariyka's birthdays, because he was in the service, and then the war, grief... and he will never be again. That's why I really wanted to write words from father to daughter...."»
My child! Even though I am gone,
I look at you from under the white clouds.
I know you're looking at me today,
My child! I will come, I will come…but only in dreams!
I protected you, so that not a single tear would fall...
I kissed your knees when you fell...
I cherished every moment with you,
He gave everything he could and managed without limit or limit.
You know, baby, I'm right there with you,
I protect your sleep at night,
If you stumble, I'll shoot you with an arrow,
Just don't cry for me, dear, don't scream!
I will hold you in my strong hands,
And with a strong gaze I will guide you through life.
Don't be afraid of anything in life, daughter, I'm with you!
I am always there! Be happy!
Your dad, Angel. Kisses and love!
author Tkacheva Yulia