Igor “Ernesto” Golchenko is a fan of the football club FC “Sumy”, a representative of the movement “Sumy Ultras”.
Igor Ivanovich Golchenko was born on October 16, 1996 in the city of Sumy. In 2012, he graduated from the 9th grade of the school No. 22 of the city of Sumy and entered the Sumy Construction College. After a certain time, his studies at the college transferred to the specialized school No. 7 (now named after Maxim Savchenko). But after some time he moved to live in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, where he studied in one of the schools of the city of Simferopol. In the spring of 2014, after the occupation of Crimea by the Russians, he returned to the city of Sumy, where he continued his studies at the secondary school No. 22, which he graduated in the same year.
After graduating from school, Igor deliberately did not continue his studies, because he had already decided for himself that he would defend Ukraine with weapons in his hands. I wanted to get to “Azov” immediately from the school desk, but could not because of age. So Ernesto got into the “pen” a little later. On the same day, as soon as he turned 18, he went to the mobilization center.
Despite his short stature and young age, in “Azov” he became a machine gunner. Comrades loved a kind and friendly guy. The brothers recall that Igor was always focused and dedicated to the cause. He believed that the military should spend most of his time in training. Ernesto died on February 14, 2015 in a fierce battle near Shyrokyn (Donetsk region). The Gazelle car with the Azov fighters, who broke through with ammunition to their comrades, came under fire. Igor received numerous injuries, covering himself with a combat comrade. The Hero was buried in the Alley of Honored Citizens of the Central Cemetery of Sumy. Awarded the Order “For Courage” III degree (26.2.2015, posthumously).
“Ernesto” made a great contribution to the fact that the Ukrainian military managed to stop the enemy. Sotnya would then receive the name “Zaliznaya” for standing by and repelling all counterattacks. It stood iron thanks to iron boys like him. On October 16, 2015 in the city of Sumy on the facade of the school building No. 22, a memorial plaque was opened in honor of the graduate of the school Igor Holchenko, and since September 2017 his name was given. On October 23, 2016, the Ukrainian National Tour was held in Sumy mini football tournament named after Igor Golchenko, in which fans of Ukrainian football clubs took part. In the same year, with the support of charitable foundations and public activists, a white collector's stamp with portraits of Soldiers who gave their lives in battles in eastern Ukraine was presented. Among them is the brave young man “Ernesto”.
