Graduate of Karazin University, Archaeologist, and Defender of Ukraine Oleksiy Kryuchenko has Passed away: the University Expresses Condolences...

12 march 2024 year

With deep sorrow, we regret to inform that on March 11, 2024, the life of the young Ukrainian archaeologist and defender of Ukraine, Oleksiy Kryuchenko, was tragically cut short.

Oleksiy enrolled in the School of History of Karazin University. He was an indispensable member of archaeological expeditions, effortlessly tackling complex tasks, known for his optimism and visionary spirit. Each year, Oleksiy participated in archaeological excavations in the Kharkiv region, researching settlements and burials from different epochs, and actively contributed to the Bilsk archaeological site. Since 2003, he had been an active member and soul of the Scythian Archaeological Expedition, dedicated to the study of the Bilsk archaeological site.

After completing his university studies, he managed the archaeological club at the Kharkiv Regional Palace of Children's and Youth Creativity for two years, participated in the research of the Circus Settlement. From January 2011, he served as the chief custodian of the archaeological museum funds at Karazin University.

In August 2014, Oleksiy (call sign "archaeologist") volunteered for military service in the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) and defended the front lines near Schastia, holding the defense at the "Facade" checkpoint.

In 2015, he entered the postgraduate program at the Institute of Archaeology, successfully defending his dissertation on February 26, 2020, with the topic "Defensive structures of the Scythian period in the Dnieper-Donets Forest-Steppe." He worked as a junior research fellow in the "Early Iron Age Archaeology" institute of this institute.

On February 24, 2022, Oleksiy was among the first to defend our country, following in the footsteps of his academic supervisor, Denis Grechko. Archaeologists had to face the loss of friends and challenging combat tasks they were prepared for.

However, in the fall of 2022, Oleksiy was diagnosed with an incurable illness, marking a new stage in his life that drastically altered all plans. He underwent serious treatment, initially in his homeland and later in the Netherlands. He believed until the end that he could overcome the disease, dreaming of continuing his work in his beloved field of archaeology. Unfortunately, his life was cut short.

For everyone who knew Oleksiy, this is a great loss. May his bright spirit rest in peace.