“SHCHEHOL”

Ivan “SHCHEHOL” Shchoholiev was a fan of the football club “Metalist” (Kharkiv) and a representative of the collective “Simmer Polecats Crew”. Ivan Yevhenovych Shchoholiev was born on 6 July 1998 in the city of Kharkiv. He studied at School No. 52, then graduated from the Kharkiv Vocational Machine-Building Lyceum, earning the profession of a broad-profile turner–miller. As a child, he played football in the youth section of “Metalist”. From an early age, he was interested in weapons, especially small arms. He studied the history of weapons through encyclopedias and knew the types used in the early to mid-20th century. According to teachers’ recollections, he was restless and often mischievous, which did not prevent him from participating in student self-government and being respected by teachers. In 2012, he began attending the “Metalist” supporters’ section. After several youth fan groups merged, Ivan joined the SPC collective. He actively took part in supporting the team, creating fan performances, and in football-related gatherings. In a collective where the main values were friendship and mutual support, Ivan found true friends for life. After the start of the Revolution of Dignity, despite his young age, he took part in resisting the so-called “Russian Spring” on the streets of Kharkiv. Together with friends, they protected people from pro-Russian collaborators at Euromaidan in Kharkiv. He even traveled to Kyiv toward the end of the Maidan there. When the war in the East began, Ivan and his best friend from the collective promised each other that as soon as they turned 18, they would go to fight. While waiting to come of age, he engaged in civic activity in youth organizations. Keeping their promise, he and his friend went to basic military training for “Azov”, but in the end Ivan joined a different unit. Ivan began his military path in the Volunteer Ukrainian Corps “Pravyi Sektor”, under the command of the legendary Dmytro “DA VINCHI” Kotsiubailo. Later, he signed a contract with the Armed Forces of Ukraine, becoming a soldier of the 92nd Separate Mechanized Brigade named after Koshovyi Otaman Ivan Sirko. He served as Chief Sergeant of a reconnaissance platoon. Long before the full-scale war, “SHCHEHOL” was well known in the military community for his bold operations, sometimes far behind the front line. Later, he founded and led the reconnaissance group “Beshketnyky Sirka”. The 92nd Brigade’s reconnaissance unit caused the enemy “mischief” in Donetsk region, even when other units preferred not to. In this “mischief”, “SHCHEHOL” best demonstrated his military talent and ingenuity. In war, he felt fully realized and did not see himself as anyone other than a serviceman. At the same time, he did not forget his fan collective. According to fellow fans, Ivan always tried to come to an important away trip or a fight. Friends also remember his remarkable talent for building communication between people. One could only envy his ability to unite completely different people and bring out the strengths of each to solve problems. He proposed to his beloved Nataliia — they planned to marry in 2023, but did not have time… With the start of the full-scale war, Ivan and his brothers-in-arms defended Kharkiv region from the enemy. He was wounded, but throughout treatment he sought to return to his brothers-in-arms as quickly as possible. As before, during the major war he showed initiative and character, always going first. In April 2022, he received the Order “For Courage”, 3rd Class. In February 2023, he was awarded the Honorary Breast Badge of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine “Khrest Khorobrykh”. Ivan Shchoholiev fell on 25 March 2023, sustaining injuries incompatible with life as a result of enemy shelling. That day, he was returning from positions and was supposed to go pick up a vehicle delivered by volunteers. The death of the brave commander shocked the fan community and the military community. Four days later, a farewell took place on the field of the “Metalist” stadium. He was laid to rest on the Alley of Glory at City Cemetery No. 18. In the summer of 2023, a memorial plaque was unveiled on the building of the school where Ivan studied. On 8 July 2023, the President of Ukraine signed a decree awarding Ivan Shchoholiev the title “Hero of Ukraine” with the Order of the “Golden Star” (posthumously). In January 2024, a former Uralska Street in his native Kharkiv was renamed in his honor.