He reached Kyiv, then Dnipro and Mariupol. Mykhailo Nikonets from Uman died defending Azovstal
Mykhailo Nikonets from Uman was born on June 16, 1992. He was the only son, his father died.
In 2015, Mykhailo and his brothers-in-arms from Azov Regiment defended Mariupol, and now he returned to the city seven years later to help them.
“He was not drafted through the military registration and enlistment office, he was not assigned to any of the units. On March 10, he walked from Uman to Kyiv and probably joined the territorial defense forces. On March 27, he and his group were sent by helicopter from Dnipro City to Mariupol as reinforcements,” Mykhailo's mother Taya Nikonets says.
“First he was at the sea port and then in the city proper. On April 13, together with the Marines they made their way to Azovstal. He was there and held this stronghold with his fellow Azov members.”
Here is a video from Azovstal, says Mykhailo's mother, her son is ahead.
Mykhailo's closest people – mother Taya and his girlfriend Diana, were waiting for messages from their son and boyfriend and supported each other. He did not often get in touch and write messages. One of the last messages was the next:
"He called. He said that he loves you and will do everything to make us win. It's not even about returning. He said that he is not afraid of death, but of not seeing us”, – Diana passed a message from Mykhailo to his mother.
Mykhailo Nikonets in Mariupol
These are short messages that Mykhailo sent to his mother:
"Mom, I'm in Mariupol. Alive, everything is fine. No connection, sorry".
"I handed over the company, then I was registered in the GRU and transferred by helicopter from Dnipro to Mariupol. And here… In short, we hold on and hope for the best. We are driven to the port and beaten by ships and planes there for days”.
"Mom, everything is shitty here, I may lose connection. Don't worry".
In Mariupol, Mykhailo left his inscriptions on the walls. One of them at the Poseidon Hotel on Primorsky Boulevard, 19: "Time, oh time. Water, oh water”.
– Yes, I know how it will end! I want everyone to know that there was another defender at Azovstal, a guy from the city of Uman – brave, honest, fair, who could not stay at home in his apartment, and volunteered to help his guys, – says Taya Nikonets.
