Mykola Berezovy, former head of Vitali Klitschko's Ukrainian Democratic Alliance for Reform office in Donetsk Oblasts's Horlivka and a soldier of Azov battalion, was lethally wounded by Russian-backed separatists on Aug. 10 in fighting near Ilovaysk.
Anton Gerashchenko, an advisor with the Interior Ministry, confirmed the information. Minister Arsen Avakov awarded Berezovy, 37, with a medal for bravery.
Forces of Ukraine’s anti-terrorist operation have been conducting an offensive on insurgent-held Donetsk, which they have encircled, since Aug. 9. The Kyiv Post’s correspondent there reported heavy fighting in Donetsk, explosions and gunfire.
NATO said that as many as 20,000 Russian troops are located on the border with Ukraine.
“He was a platoon commander, our platoon was following the armored personnel carrier and was targeted by the snipers from the both sides. Those were Russian recruits-professionals,” wrote Mykola Lyahovych, a volunteer who witnessed the accident, on his Facebook page.
Berezovy tried to save another Azov soldier who was wounded, but instead got shot in his leg, close to groin. Excessive bleeding could not be stopped and Berezovy died before the arrival of military ambulance, according to Lyahovych.
The husband since 2002 of Ukraine’s top anti-corruption official and prominent investigative journalist Tetyana Chornovil, Berezovy held degrees in finance from Vadym Getman Economic University and Kyiv-based International Finance University. He joined Interior Ministry-ruled Azov battalion in June.
In June 2013, the Interior Ministry under the corrupt regime of ousted president Viktor Yanukovych launched a criminal investigation against Berezovy who became a victim of several provocations, organized by the then-government, according to Chornovil. She saw this as Yanukovych’s attempts to pressure her due to her investigations of the ex-president’s activities, especially the luxurious Mezhyhirya residence.
In 2012, Berezovy ran for parliament as UDAR’s candidate in Horlivka region of Donetsk Oblast, but lost the election in the pro-Yanukovych driven constituency. “My husband during the photo session amid ongoing political campaign for UDAR was the only one who could be pictured with (heavy-weight boxing champion Vitali) Klitschko without standing on the stool,” Chornovil wrote in her blog with Ukrayinska Pravda, news and opinion website.
Besides his wife, Berezovy leaves two children.
