Heroes Never Die: Oleksandr Kobzar

"My son used to say, 'If not us, then who?'" recalls Tetyana Dmytrivna, the mother of Oleksandr Kobzar. Alexander Gennadiyovych Kobzar, a rifleman with the 184th Separate Battalion of the 122nd Brigade of the Territorial Defense Forces, was killed on December 28, 2023.

Intent continues its series of articles about fallen defenders,“Heroes Never Die.”

A group of soldiers, including Oleksandr Kobzar, was on its way to relieve their comrades at the “Miami” observation post, located in the Shostka District of Sumy Oblast. Unfortunately, their vehicle was ambushed by an enemy sabotage and reconnaissance group.

His mother, Tetyana Dmytrivna, and his comrade Petro Chumachenko spoke about Oleksandr Kobzar’s life, his love for cars and motorcycles, and his tenacity and courage in service.

“Sashko helped out with everything around the farm from childhood onward,” recalls Tetyana Dmytrivna. “While studying to become a tractor operator at the Tatarbunary Vocational School, he had already started working and earning money. He bought his first car and motorcycle on his own. He loved those vehicles so much that he could spend round-the-clock in the garage, tinkering with and improving his metal creations. Sashko didn’t serve in the military because his right eye didn’t see very well. Then he went to Odesa to work; he wanted to earn more money.

PHOTO provided by interviewees

Here in our village of Nerushay, my son had many friends. For his friends, Sasha loved to grill shashlik and cook fish soup. My son was a people person, very sociable. Everyone loved him, and they still remember him with kindness and respect.

PHOTO provided by interviewees

When full-scale war broke out, they all got together and decided to join the army. Sashko told me then: “If not us, then who? So that you can sleep peacefully here, we have to protect you.” His father, unfortunately, was no longer with us. Sashko’s father had served in the border guard in his day. I think he, too, would have joined the army without hesitation.

PHOTO provided by the interviewees

Our village, Nerushay in the Tarutyn district, is small—in 2022, there were perhaps one and a half to two thousand residents. Forty young men from our village volunteered immediately. In total, about 270 young men are serving.

We were constantly calling each other. I’d even put together care packages for him.

In the military, he was just as meticulous about the metal parts—he was constantly cleaning his rifle. And he’d cook for his comrades—meat, fish, and grilled shashlik."

PHOTO provided by interviewees

“Sashko and I went to the same vocational school in Tatarbunary,” says his comrade Petro Chumachenko. “He was training to be a tractor driver, and I was training to be a painter and plasterer.

One day we signed up as volunteers and met near the Tatarbunary military recruitment office. And on March 3, 2022, we were accepted into the Territorial Defense Forces.

We were both born in 1996. Sasha was born on May 16, and I was born on the 25th. We ended up together in the 2nd squad of the 2nd platoon of the 2nd company of the 184th Battalion of the 122nd Brigade of the Territorial Defense Forces. That’s where we really became close friends and stuck together like glue. Everything we had was side by side—even the serial numbers on our weapons.

At first, I was a machine gunner, and Sasha was the second man in my crew. Later, we were both riflemen, always standing side by side at our positions. He was like a brother to me, you could say. He’d always have my back. He’d never turn me down for anything.

I knew he had problems with his right eye. During shooting practice, I noticed that he always aimed with his left eye. And he had problems with the fingers on his right hand. But he never complained about it.

PHOTO provided by interviewees

Once in Bakhmut, an enemy shell landed near him; a grenade landed just a meter and a half away from Sasha. A miracle saved him—the shrapnel tore through his jacket and the coat underneath it. But it didn’t touch his thermal underwear or his body beneath it. The commander told Sasha, “Lie down, rest for a while.” But he, as always, insisted, “Who else but us?” and refused to rest. He was a determined young man.”

“We were waiting for him on January 5, 2024; he was supposed to be on leave,” recalls Tetyana Dmytrivna. “He’d even ordered some new car parts, and I’d packed them into two boxes. I wasn’t worried, as usual, because I thought we’d see each other soon. But on December 28, the sad news came…

At the funeral, in a church in Odesa, I was presented with Sasha’s ‘Medal for Sacrifice and Love for Ukraine.’ And I only found out after his death that my son also had a ‘Golden Cross.’ A year ago, I was awarded another posthumous honor—the Order “For Courage,” Third Class. My son died for all of us; to me, Sasha is a true hero.”

PHOTO provided by interviewees

“My wife was pregnant, and I asked Sasha to be the child’s godfather,” says Petro Chumachenko. “Unfortunately, Sasha died before my daughter was born. I named her Oleksandra, in his honor. When she grows up, I’ll definitely tell her about my comrade-in-arms, Oleksandr Hennadiyovych Kobzar.” 

Антон Терехов