Yurii Omelchenko was born in Kharkiv and worked as an electric train operator until retiring. He was 64 years old, and lived in the village of Kozacha Lopan, Kharkiv district, Kharkiv region.
On 20 August Yurii, his wife, his godbrother and two friends had set out in his car to pick up hot meals being distributed by a volunteer organization at the village council. His godbrother was driving, and Yurii sat beside him.
Suddenly, the car was hit by a Russian FPV drone. Yurii was badly injured in the right thigh and was bleeding heavily. His godbrother was hit in the eye by shrapnel. People waiting nearby for food rushed to help them, and used a blanket to carry Yurii to medics. An ambulance was called, but Yurii died from his wounds.
‘He never turned away someone in need. After the Ukrainian Armed Forces liberated us on September 11, 2022, he was always ready to help – driving people to the hospital when needed. When there was no food, he would bring groceries and medicine from Kharkiv’, remembered his wife, Vira. ‘We kept a small farm, a garden, and a greenhouse together. Our grandchildren visited all the time’.
Yurii Omelchenko is survived by his wife, two sons, and six grandchildren.