Swimmer Nikita Zasiadko, who was only 18 years old, gave his life for the freedom and independence of Ukraine…
He was born on 29 June 2005 in Kharkiv. He devoted most of his life to sports. At the age of 15, he became a Master of Sports of Ukraine in swimming, and at 17 – a candidate for Master of Sports in freestyle wrestling.
In 2022, Nikita graduated from the Kharkiv Professional College of Sports and entered the Kharkiv State Academy of Physical Culture to study two specialities: “Rehabilitation” and “Recreation”.
Despite the fact that Kharkiv borders on the occupying country, Nikita and his family stayed in their hometown after the full-scale Russian invasion began. He continued to study and actively helped volunteers. Every day in his younger years, he witnessed the horrific crimes committed by Russians against humanity: bombings and shelling that brought only destruction and death. All these horrors of war only made 17-year-old Nikita’s desire to defend Ukraine stronger and stronger.
As soon as he turned 18, he took a year out and voluntarily joined the legendary “Azov” Brigade. He told his family that age does not matter if you have a desire to defend your family. And two weeks after his birthday, on 14 July 2023, he was enlisted as a senior machine gunner and he received the call sign ‘Hordyi’. He fought in the most difficult spots of the frontline, where the enemy did not stop shelling for a minute – in the Serebryansky forest in Luhansk region. The last time he spoke to his mother. Despite the difficult situation, he told her that everything would be fine, encouraged her, and was looking forward to his mother’s parcel with something sweet, but unfortunately, he never got it.
On the morning of 30 November 2023, Nikita helped to evacuate a wounded Ukrainian reconnaissance defender, and in a few hours he went to perform a combat mission, which became his last…
He was only 18 years old, but he had a keen sense of justice that kept him involved in the war. He was too mature for his young age, an extremely dedicated fighter and a very sincere person. He dreamed of liberating his homeland from the invaders, meeting his beloved girl, creating his own family and living in a free and peaceful Ukraine.
By a decree of the President of Ukraine, Nikita was awarded the Order ‘For Courage’, III class (posthumously). His mother, father and older brother were waiting for him at home…