Today, after more than two years of waiting and hoping, Oleksandr Openko’s family, loved ones and colleagues laid him to rest – a member of the War Museum staff and a Defender of Ukraine. He gave his life defending his homeland.
Oleksandr was born on 20 July 1985 in the village of Branytsia, Chernihiv Region. At the Museum, he worked as a senior technician for air-conditioning and ventilation systems. His colleagues remember him as a kind, sincere and caring professional, a skilled all-rounder who could always be relied upon. He was also a regular blood donor.
On 24 April 2024, Oleksandr was called up for military service as part of the mobilisation. On 13 August of the same year, he did not return from a combat mission in the Kursk sector. For more than two years, the Defender was listed as missing in action. Until the very end, we hoped for a miracle, but a recent DNA examination confirmed his death.
Preserving the memory of the war is our professional duty. But when colleagues return on their shields, that memory becomes a personal pain. Oleksandr was an important part of our Museum family, and we will preserve his memory with profound gratitude and respect.
We express our sincere condolences to his mother, Vira Mykolaivna, his brother Serhii, and to all Oleksandr’s family, friends and loved ones. We share your pain and bow our heads in mourning with you.
May the memory of Oleksandr Openko be eternal.
Museum workers remember.
