Born on July 22, 1995 in Kharkiv. In 2013, he graduated from Kharkiv comprehensive school No. 181 with in-depth study of the Korean language. He studied at the Kharkiv University of Construction and Architecture at the Faculty of Plumbing, but due to various circumstances he did not receive a higher education and went to work. He soon got married.
Mom and wife say: "Ihor was a creative person, played sports, created new original balls with lights, different faces. In general, he loved to create holidays for children. He loved children madly. He dreamed of his children. He was a good friend to his friends. He went to war as a volunteer. From the first minute of the war, he was eager to go to war to defend his Motherland, but he was very worried about his family. And when in April 2022 he took his family: wife, mother, father - to Kremenchuk, he himself returned to Kharkiv. He several times applied to various RTCCs and SPs with a request to be drafted into the Armed Forces, but he was refused, and only on the third attempt through the Nemyshlyansk RTCC and SP in April 2022 was he drafted into the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.".
He served in the 127th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade as an operator of the anti-tank section of the anti-tank platoon of the fire support company of the brigade. His comrades-in-arms told his wife: "Igor was a kind, cheerful, sociable and generally creative person. He could charge all his friends with positivity. He sang very well, and we listened to his songs with pleasure. We especially liked it when he sang songs with the help of a whistle.".
From the first days of participating in the defense of the Motherland, Igor, as part of the brigade, took an active part in the counteroffensive of the Defense Forces of Ukraine in the Kharkiv region, during which the occupiers were pushed back a considerable distance from the regional center. In September 2022, the brigade took part in the deoccupation of settlements in the Kharkiv region during the Slobozhansk offensive operation. It was the soldiers of the 127th Brigade of the Troitsk Region who liberated Velyki and Maly Prokhody of the Dergachiv community, as well as Borshchova, Slobozhanske, Lipetsk, Hlyboke, Strelech and other villages of the Lipetsk community. For his active participation in these battles, Igor Shirchenko was repeatedly encouraged for the exemplary performance of his duties and high achievements in professional training. And in October 2022, he was posthumously awarded the Order "For Courage" of the III degree.
Circumstances of death:
As part of the general counteroffensive in the Kharkiv region in September 2022, the unit where Igor served took part in the battles for the liberation of the village of Borshchova, Lipetsk rural territorial community, Kharkiv district. It was liberated on September 8, 2022. Unfortunately, Igor did not witness the final liberation of the village, as he died during mortar shelling on the eve of September 7, 2022 near the village. According to his comrades, during this battle he received a serious wound in his hand, but continued to fight with one hand and during the assault operations he received injuries incompatible with life.
Igor was buried with full military honors in the village of Kamyana Yaruga on September 14, 2022, in the place where his two grandfathers and grandmother are buried.
The deceased is survived by his mother and wife.
DECREE OF THE PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE No. 744/2022
About honoring with state awards of Ukraine
For personal courage and selfless actions shown in protecting the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and for loyalty to the military oath, I decree:
To award the Order "For Courage" of the 3rd degree to Ihor Olegovich SHYRCHENKO (posthumously) - soldier
President of Ukraine V. ZELENSKYI
October 31, 2022