Ukraine has lost another of her sons, a man who embodied both the strength of an athlete and the courage of a soldier. Oleksiy Rozental, Junior Sergeant of the 3rd Assault Brigade, gave his life for his homeland.
Oleksiy was born in 1990 in Dnipro. From his youth he was part of the football fan movement “Avangard,” and later became one of the founders and first players of the Dnipro rugby club. His position on the field was hooker, a forward who always went into the fiercest clashes, fought to the very end, and knew no fear. These very qualities made him the heart of the team, but a severe injury forced him to end his sports career too soon.
At the very beginning of the full-scale war, Oleksiy joined the Territorial Defense. His fan nickname “Grandson” became his call sign in combat, under which his brothers-in-arms came to know him. He began as an infantryman in the 98th Territorial Defense Battalion, which later became part of the 1st Mechanized Battalion of the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade. His combat path was distinguished: from grenadier and machine gunner to drone operator. He struck the enemy across many fronts — from Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv region to the inferno of Bakhmut and the battles for Avdiivka.
His comrades remember Oleksiy as the soul of their unit. Always smiling, kind, and open, yet at the same time courageous and fearless. “You could always rely on him,” said those who stood shoulder to shoulder with him.
His service and bravery were marked by numerous honors: the Steel Cross, the Golden Cross, the Cross of the Brave, the Knight’s Cross medal, and the Order for Courage, 3rd Class. They stand as proof that in war, he remained the same man he had been in sport — one who fought until the end.
On September 1, 2025, Oleksiy Rozental was killed in battle in the Kharkiv region. He was only 34. He is survived by his mother and sister.
Ukraine has lost a defender, the world of sport a brilliant athlete, and his comrades-in-arms a brother — steadfast and irreplaceable. His life is the story of an athlete who became a soldier, and of a soldier who remained an athlete at heart: honest in struggle, loyal to his team, and ready to go to the very end.
Eternal memory to the Hero.