Military officer, sailor and musician Ihor Khodzhaniiazov killed while defending Ukraine. PHOTO
On June 28, 36-year-old Ihor Khodzhaniiazov, a senior sailor who was known in civilian life as a poet, musician and researcher, was killed at the front while carrying out a combat mission. He is survived by three children.
This was reported by his wife, Olena Shykura, Censor.NET reports.
What is known about the defender?
Olena said that Ihor Khodzhaniiazov was killed by a direct hit from a guided aerial bomb on June 28.
"On Constitution Day of Ukraine. A day before the first birthday of his youngest son, Hordii. I will grieve and raise three sons now. I was happy with you every day of almost all 13 years of our life together. I thank fate for this priceless gift. You and I managed to do so much and so little at the same time. You, too, could have done many more truly useful and outstanding things in the different fields you were passionate about and understood brilliantly, inspiring many. We will live, and I promise to rejoice. I will raise our children to be happy and worthy people, as you were, my Sun," Olena wrote.
The woman noted that Ihor Khodzhaniiazov would be buried in the village of Zarvantsi, Vinnytsia region, on the Alley of Defenders of Ukraine. Olena Shykura will announce the day and time of the farewell later.
Ihor Khodzhaniiazov’s sister, Tetiana Kuzhel, also reported her brother’s death. She noted that after the full-scale war began, Ihor stood up to defend Ukraine and did not leave the service even after the birth of his third child.
He was a musician and researcher
- Ihor Khodzhaniiazov was from Vinnytsia. In civilian life, he was a poet, translator, musician, programmer, linguist and cultural studies scholar. Together with like-minded friends, he founded the literary group Novyi Shynok, was a member of the band Mashala Doza, and played the Greek bouzouki.
- He studied the history and traditional music of various peoples, including Karakalpak, Crimean Tatar, Balkan and Greek musical traditions.
- In addition, Ihor was the author of the channel Anonymous Author of the 18th Century, where he published materials devoted to history, music and culture.
"I was always fascinated by his deep interest in Balkan and Greek music, and especially in the soulful and rebellious genre of rebetiko. Ihor was an incredibly bright, profound and creative person. And that is how he will forever remain in our memory and in the sounds of his bouzouki," said Nina Paskal, director of the Greek society Enotita.
"The loss for Ukraine is indescribable. An extraordinary intellectual, scholar, musician and a very sincere and bright person, Ihor Khodzhaniiazov, has been killed. Three young children have been left fatherless. I do not know anyone who could understand certain issues so deeply. And I was glad that the world of musical folklore studies had finally accepted him into its community. About throat singing, about Hutsul music, about where to look for cool and new hopak melodies, I could ask only him," added choir artist Alla Pustovit.
