Junior Sergeant Eduard Shakhov, call sign “Shakh,” was killed on September 4, 2019, near the village of Zaitseve in Bakhmut district. While on combat duty, he was observing enemy positions when, during hostile shelling, he sustained a through-and-through gunshot wound to the chest with damage to the left lung. He was 26 years old.
Eduard was born in the village of Dolynske, Kherson region, where he completed school. He later enrolled in the Faculty of History at Donetsk National University, earning a bachelor’s degree and then a master’s degree. He was passionate about history and geography, drew well, always had his own opinion, and was never afraid to defend it.
In 2015, he joined the National Guard of Ukraine. He served in the Separate Special Purpose Detachment “Azov,” where he was the commander of the 1st squad of the 3rd platoon of operational assignment of the 3rd operational company of the 2nd battalion.
“My son was always cheerful, kind, and joyful. Although I raised him on my own, I managed to bring up a real man—a patriot and a warrior—who did not stand aside when war came to Ukraine. He volunteered. I always supported him in everything. I have been proud of my son since the day he was born. Edik never sat idle. Even as a child, he was very active and restless. In 2000, a tragedy struck—he suffered a severe head injury and went through clinical death. But from childhood he showed character and fighting spirit, managed to overcome this ordeal, defeat weakness, and live a full life. Doctors forbade him any physical exertion, but Eduard seemed determined to prove that his second chance at life was not given in vain—he eagerly played sports, read a lot, studied with pleasure, and loved learning new things. According to his teachers, he sought to show that he was no different from other children, as if that terrible diagnosis had never existed,” wrote his mother, Olena Volodymyrivna. She continues her son’s path of service in his unit—the 12th Special Purpose Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine “Azov.”
Posthumously, Junior Sergeant Eduard Oleksandrovych Shakhov was awarded the Order of Courage, 3rd Class, and the “For Valiant Service” badge.
The defender was laid to rest in his native village.
Eduard is survived by his mother, sister, and grandmother.
At 9:00 a.m. — a nationwide moment of silence. The Donetsk Regional Military Administration and the Heroes’ Memorial platform honor fallen defenders from Donetsk region.