On August 1, 2026, the Chuguev community, with deep sadness, accompanied the final journey of serviceman CHURKIN Oleksandr Serhiyovych, who gave his life defending Ukraine from Russian aggression.
Alexander Churkin was born on July 14, 1986 in the city of Chuguev. Here he received his secondary education. First he studied at gymnasium No. 4, then continued his studies at Chuguev vocational school No. 53, where he received a working specialty of a welder. In civilian life he worked at the State Enterprise "Chuguev Aviation Repair Plant".
In September 2024, he was mobilized into the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine by the Chuguiv RTCC and SP. He served in the 157th separate mechanized brigade as a machine gunner of the 2nd motorized infantry division. In December 2024, the brigade was deployed to the Kurakhiv sector. The defense held out under extremely high pressure from Russian infantry and armored vehicles on the approaches to the city and in its eastern/southern outskirts. It was in the third decade of December that the situation near Kurakhiv reached its peak. The fighting for the settlement of Kurakhiv began in the fall of 2024, after the capture of Avdiivka, the Russian army began to rapidly advance. The period from December 19 to 21, 2024 near Kurakhiv for the 157th Motorized Rifle Brigade was marked by a large number of artillery attacks, assaults, and fierce gun battles. The enemy carried out massive assaults, trying to completely close the ring around the city and break through the defense line. It was on these dates that a significant number of reports from relatives about the brigade's servicemen who had stopped communicating or had received the status of "missing". Among such servicemen was Alexander Churkin. Due to the extremely difficult combat situation, the evacuation of the dead from the position was impossible, and the serviceman was considered missing for a long time.
Subsequently, the body of the defender was transferred by the Russian side as a result of the exchange. Law enforcement investigators, together with representatives of expert institutions, carried out all necessary measures to identify him. In July 2026, the body of the Hero was delivered to the city of Chuguev.
On August 1, 2026, Oleksandr Churkin was buried on the Alley of Memory in Chuguiv. A bright memory to our Defender Oleksandr Churkin. We express our sincere condolences to the family and friends of the deceased. His courage, self-sacrifice and devotion to Ukraine will forever remain in the memory of grateful generations.
