He rushed to help the guys near Avdiivka and was killed by a shell: a sambo fighter and captain of the NGU liberated Bucha, Irpin and defended Sievierodonetsk

Among those who liberated Irpin and Bucha a year ago, as well as guarded the Kyiv airport, was sambo master Oleh Grama. During a difficult year, the athlete defended Ukraine, fighting the Russian occupiers in the hottest spots, but on February 18, his life was cut short by an enemy shell in Donetsk Oblast.

Oleh was from the village of Novoselytsia, Khmelnytskyi region. He was fond of sports since childhood. He was a student of the sambo department of the Kyiv Children's and Youth Sports School No. 1, successfully competed in tournaments and received the title of master of sports in combat sambo.

After high school, Gram studied highways at the National Transport University in Kyiv. But after receiving his degree, he soon decided to pursue a military career and took the oath in 2013. The athlete served in various units of the National Guard of Ukraine, including the Omega Special Forces unit.

From 2014 to 2022, Grama took part in the Anti-Terrorist Operation and the Joint Forces Operation in the eastern part of Ukraine. He received numerous awards during his nearly 10 years of service.

After Russia's full-scale invasion, Captain Grama fought in the Kyiv region, liberating Irpin and Bucha, and guarding the Kyiv airport. He then performed reconnaissance and assault missions in the Izium area and held the defence of Sievierodonetsk.

In August, Oleh and his comrades were redeployed to the Donetsk region to the Avdiivka area. On February 18, 2023, the fighter of the NGU Omega Special Forces unit fought his last battle near the village of Novobakhmutivka.

According to his comrades-in-arms, Grama went to help the servicemen of the 110th Separate Mechanised Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, who were holding back the enemy's offensive. Getting as close as possible to the enemy, the Ukrainian fighter hit his IFV with a precision shot from a Javelin ATGM.

Oleh then engaged in close combat with Russian infantry and did everything possible to stop the occupiers' advance. When he heard the roar of a tank, he and his comrade-in-arms began to search for the location of the enemy's vehicles to destroy them. But he did not have time. A tank shell exploded near their position and inflicted life-threatening injuries on the soldier.

According to the memories of his colleagues, Oleh always took care of his subordinates, even after being wounded near Sievierodonetsk, he tried to return to work as soon as possible, sometimes even taking his own health lightly.

The defender is survived by his parents, wife and eight-year-old daughter.

"He was the soul of the company. He always stood up for his people, met with them all the time and communicated with them. He valued his brothers and friends," the NGU quoted the wife of the fallen hero as saying.

The defender's coach plans to organise a sambo tournament in honour of the athletes who died in the Russian-Ukrainian war, in particular, to honour the memory of Oleh Grama.

"All the soldiers remain in our hearts and prayers. They are watching us from the sky. Despite everything, we pray for our brothers, for their return and health. We always try to help them. We are waiting for the news of victory from you," said Anatoliy, the father of the deceased.

Earlier, OBOZREVATEL reported that a tennis player from Mykolaiv, who went to the front after surgery, was killed under mortar fire.

Only verified information is available on our Obozrevatel Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!