Heroes do not die: Alexander Troshin

"I have a son growing up, and I have to answer the question of where my father was during the war." This is what Oleksandr Troshyn said after the full-scale invasion began on February 24, 2022. In February, he mobilized along with his twin brother and his father.

Intent continues the series of publications about the fallen defenders"Heroes Do Not Die".

PHOTO provided by the interviewee

On January 5, 2024, soldier Troshyn performed a very difficult task as part of the first rifle squad of the third rifle platoon of the "Gold" unit of the 122nd Brigade. It was on the Konka River near Krynky. After the FPV drone hit the boat, a rescue operation was conducted and an emergency evacuation boat was used. However, Oleksandr Troshyn was killed.

The soldier's wife, Alina, as well as his commander and comrade-in-arms, Oleksandr Chebotarev, shared their memories of what kind of husband, father, volunteer and fighter he was.

"We met Sasha at a club," says Alina. - "I liked almost everything about him: his appearance and character. A year later we got married, and in 2020 our son Rodion was born. He and his father had a very good relationship. Rodion is very similar to his father in appearance and character. And I can already see his father's stubbornness in him: whatever he says, he will do. When the full-scale invasion began, Sasha quickly made a decision. He said he would not hide and would go to defend the country. He said he needed to set an example for his son, who would ask him where his father was during the war."

PHOTO provided by the interviewee

"We met Sasha and his twin brother Serhiy on the third day of the war at the Berezov military enlistment office," says their commander, Oleksandr Chebotarev. - "Their father Mykola was with them. Serhiy had something wrong with his heart, he could have written himself out. But they didn't even think of doing so - to defect. Both brothers are just crazy patriots. They wanted only one thing - to stop the enemy, who was already near Mykolaiv.

PHOTO courtesy of the interviewee

The brothers were like two fingers on a hand, always together. They tried to understand all military matters to the smallest detail. They were jack of all trades with weapons and equipment. It never happened that Sasha or his brother refused any order. On the contrary, they took the initiative. They could add something, make it better.

The unit was constantly undergoing training: first in Ukraine, and then in Germany. I remember once Sashko fell and twisted two of his fingers. Immediately after the doctors helped him, he returned to training. And then he ran with us with his arm bandaged. There was no attempt to skip training. Everyone wanted one thing - to go and shoot at these fucking enemies."

"Sashko's tractor and car were always in perfect condition," continues his wife Alina. - "He did everything with his own hands. He served in the army from 2016 to 2018. He retained some army habits, he always folded his clothes on one side. He was actually very neat. Everything had to be folded correctly, not a single piece of litter, not a single extra thing.

We saw each other, I came to visit him. He would take weekends and vacations and go home. We kept in touch. I always supported him. I sent him parcels so that he could feel my care. He did not tell me anything about his service. He kept everything to himself. No matter what you ask, he was fine."

PHOTO provided by the interviewee

"If they had to do the most unpleasant and difficult things, such as digging a new trench, they had no problem," recalls the brothers' commander, Oleksandr Chebotarev. - "They were among the first to train and run somewhere. They also managed to help others. They are good, well-mannered guys. They did everything for the result, as it should be. No matter what task you set, they did it perfectly.

They were very patriotic. They did not even think about staying at home. They loved their wives very much. The way they wanted to go home was the same way they wanted to go back to the front to their units. True Ukrainians, with a capital "U."
A year and a half later, we were already on the banks of the Dnipro: I was on one, my brothers on the other. Only then did we hear about the BZVP for the first time. It was funny: the war was going on outside, and somewhere there were talks about whether someone had passed the BZVP. Better deal with those who do not leave their apartments."

"My husband and his brother Serhiy had a very close relationship," continues Alina's wife. - "They were always together, and nothing could separate them. They couldn't even spend a day without each other. Serhiy would come to us, and we would come to Serhiy. On January 4, we had our last conversation. Sasha said he was going on a mission. And when he has a chance, he will call me. That's all."

PHOTO provided by the interviewee

"Boating across the Dnipro was a job for the brave," says Oleksandr Chebotarev. - "Where do you go from the boat? You sit and wait for a shell to hit you or not. They could go to Krynky for a week or two. Then they would get five days of rest.

The brothers were in the same boat. Otherwise they would not have gone. They would have said yes: Sasha in one boat, Serhii in another, they would not have agreed. They were always together. At first, they got into the boat for the first time. And then, when we reached the shore, there was another hit. Sasha's body was pulled out. No one knows where his brother Serhiy is. We hope that Serhiy was captured and will be exchanged. Maybe he is alive. There is hope, there have been different cases."

"On the one hand, it's a pity that this happened," Alina shares her pain. - "But I am very proud of him. He did what a man should do. He took responsibility for his son, his family and his country. I am proud of him, proud of my husband."

Антон Терехов