The War Museum held a commemorative event for Mykhailo Nikolenko, call sign “SOAP” – a volunteer and assault trooper of the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade, who was killed on 30 April 2024 while defending Ukraine in the Luhansk Region.
Mykhailo was born on 23 August 1997 in the Korsun region. He studied at the National University of Food Technologies in Kyiv, then worked in tourism, lived and worked abroad, and travelled extensively. After the start of the full-scale invasion, he returned to Ukraine from Poland to defend his homeland.
For almost a year, Mykhailo sought an opportunity to join the military. He dreamed of serving in “Azov” and admired its values, discipline, resilience and brotherhood. The phrase “Azov is freedom” was particularly meaningful to him and became one of his personal mottos during the war.
Mykhailo passed a rigorous selection process and, on 4 March 2023, took the Military Oath of Allegiance to the Ukrainian People. After training in the United Kingdom, he became a soldier and assault trooper in the 3rd Company of the 1st Mechanised Battalion of the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade.
He chose the call sign “SOAP” in honour of his favourite character, John “Soap” MacTavish, from the game Call of Duty.
Mykhailo fought in the Bakhmut and Avdiivka sectors and in the Serebrianskyi Forest. He sustained wounds and a severe concussion, but each time returned to his comrades. On numerous occasions, he volunteered for evacuation missions, evacuating the wounded and recovering the bodies of the fallen from the battlefield.
On 30 April 2024, during an enemy assault near Novovodiane in the Luhansk Region, Mykhailo was in charge of the combat position. Together with his comrades, he held the defence. “SOAP” was killed by a gunshot wound while defending his comrades.
At the event at the Museum, Mykhailo was remembered by his parents, Hryhorii Vasylovych and Nataliia Mykhailivna; his childhood friend Ihor Zozulia, call sign “Artist”; representatives and comrades of the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade; the Kyiv Veterans’ Corps of the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade; and Vitalii Matsiuk, Mayor of Korsun-Shevchenkivskyi.
For Mykhailo’s family, the presence of his comrades from “Azov” was particularly symbolic: they came to support his family, honour the memory of the Hero and pay tribute to the warrior who had so deeply dreamed of being among them.
A poignant moment during the event was a gift from the artist Beata Kurkul. The artist creates portraits of fallen defenders and presents the works to their families. Mykhailo’s story deeply moved her, so she painted his portrait and personally attended the event to support the family and honour the memory of the courageous warrior. The family donated the portrait created by Beata to the Museum.
Representatives of the Kyiv branch of the Ukrainian nationalist organisation “Centuria” also took part and delivered a speech. Veteran and writer Ruslan Knysh also participated in the event and read out the Decalogue of a Ukrainian Nationalist.
Mykhailo’s sister, Alona Nikolenko, also addressed those present. For her, he will forever remain not only “SOAP” – a warrior, assault trooper and defender – but, above all, her brother Misha: smiling, kind, sincere, and in love with travel, music, animals and life.
“Misha was not born a warrior and did not prepare himself for war. He made this choice himself when his country was in danger,” says Alona.
Mykhailo’s memory lives on in the recollections of his family and friends, in the portrait created by Beata Kurkul, and in Kuza – the ginger cat whom Mykhailo rescued in Druzhkivka and brought home.
By Decree of the President of Ukraine No. 466/2024 of 17 July 2024, Mykhailo was posthumously awarded the Order for Courage, 3rd Class. He was also awarded the “Combatant’s Cross” badge and posthumously granted the title “Honorary Citizen of the City of Korsun-Shevchenkivskyi”.
On 23 May 2026, a memorial bas-relief honouring Mykhailo Nikolenko was unveiled at the Pantheon of Heroes near the Motronynskyi Monastery in Kholodnyi Yar.
The event concluded with the Nationalist’s Prayer, recited by “Azov” servicemen.
We remember Mykhailo – and together with him, we remember those who gave their lives for the freedom of Ukraine.
