Heroes do not die: Mykola Koniushok

TheIntent continues the series of stories about Ukraine's defenders called"Heroes Do Not Die".

Senior Sergeant Mykola Konyushok, a fighter with the third battalion of the 123rd Brigade of the Tank Corps, was killed near the village of Bohoyavlenka in Donetsk region. The soldier's wife, Yulia Oleksandrivna, told us about his life, character, dreams, friends and family.

PHOTO provided by Mykola Koniushko's wife

"He was a good family man and husband," she recalls, "He was always thinking about his family, he missed home very much. And when our son was born on December 4, 2023, Mykola seemed to have grown wings. He wanted to put an end to the horror that was happening on our land as soon as possible and return to his family."

PHOTO courtesy of Mykola's wife Koniushko

Mykola was an open and friendly person, easily found common ground with others, had many friends and always supported those around him. He often repeated his life's motto: "I will always help if it comes to hospital, health or death." Although he worked as a construction worker in civilian life, he was sincerely interested in medicine. His grandmother was a doctor, and perhaps it was from childhood that he developed those skills and vocation. No wonder the word"Medicine" became his call sign.

PHOTO courtesy of Mykola Koniushko's wife

Yulia admits that it was the war that brought them together. At the beginning of the full-scale invasion, she came to her mother's village, and Mykola came to his brother's. Their friends brought them to the same company.

"We met in June. I immediately liked him because he was a man of his word: he said it and did it. Reliable, responsible, genuine. You could rely on him. It was his inner core that won me over," Yulia recalls.

PHOTO courtesy of Mykola Koniushko's wife

They started living together, although they had little time to spend together - the war did not let them go. Mykola could come home about once a month, and most of their communication took place over the phone or via video. He was allowed to go home for only five days, even for the wedding. He saw his young son more often on the screen than with him.

PHOTO courtesy of Mykola Koniushko's wife

When Mykola was at home, he devoted all his time to his family, the farm, and the house. He had special hopes for the estate: he planted trees, landscaped every corner, and made plans for the future together. He also loved simple, peaceful pleasures - meeting friends, playing backgammon, relaxing in good company.

PHOTO courtesy of Mykola's wife Koniushko

Mykola volunteered for the war. He served as a combat medic and was later promoted to sergeant. With his promotion, the paperwork load increased, and Mykola refused the position, saying it was not for him. He was closer to the truth in the trenches, to his comrades, to those who were on the front line.

PHOTO courtesy of Mykola Koniushko's wife

From the first months of the war, he was in active contact with volunteers and through his friends got medicines for the soldiers. For some time he worked in training centers, but he left there as well - he wanted to be with ordinary soldiers, closer to the combat positions. There he often had to perform his duties as a medic again.

PHOTO provided by Mykola Konyushko's wife

According to the conclusion of the military medical commission, Mykola was of limited fitness - at the age of 17, after an accident, he had problems with his leg. At first they did not want to take him as a volunteer, but he insisted. He could have served away from combat, could have avoided the war altogether - but he didn't take advantage of any of these opportunities. He wanted to be close to his brothers. Many argued with him about this, but Mykola remained firm.

He did not like politics - he said he had his own business and was doing it. After his shell shock, it became harder to control his emotions. He took medication because he did not want it to affect his family.

PHOTO courtesy of Mykola Koniushko's wife

Yulia has a good relationship with Mykola's father, as well as his aunt and cousin. The mother came to see her grandson several times, but now we have less contact. Mykola also has an older son, who is now 14. For some time, his ex-wife did not allow them to have any contact, but when the boy grew up, he got in touch, and they have been communicating very well for the last six months.

When Mykola was serving in the Kherson sector, they were in touch almost constantly, and often talked via video. After he was redeployed to Donetsk region, the connection could be lost for weeks - sometimes even for three.

PHOTO courtesy of Mykola Koniushko's wife

Mykola was promoted in 2023 for his service, although he was not a sergeant for long. He received the insignia "For Courage and Bravery", "For Service to the State" and other awards. Soon, Yulia is to receive another one - posthumously.

"I always believed that everything would be fine with him," she says. "He was a strategist, able to see the situation several steps ahead. When he received a task, he understood what to do and how to do it, especially when it came to medicine. His comrades listened to him. He reassured us, repeated that everything would be fine, and we believed."

PHOTO courtesy of Mykola Koniushko's wife

The last conversation took place on Monday night

"It was a very quiet, very calm conversation. It's hard to remember it now. There was a feeling... as if he was saying goodbye. He was giving me instructions. I said: "This is not the last call." He confirmed: "Yes, it is. Go to bed, get some rest. I'll call you tomorrow". "And the next morning, on Tuesday, he died..." Yulia says, "It hurts. He was my husband, my life, my family. He had every opportunity to stay away from the war, but he made his choice. I respect him for that. He gave his life for the country - so that my son and I could live in a free country."

Антон Терехов