Ivan “Shchegol” Shchogolev is a fan of the football club “Metalist” (Kharkiv), a representative of the team “Simmer Polecats Crew”.

Ivan Yevgenievich Shchogolev was born on July 6, 1998 in the city of Kharkiv. He studied at school No. 52, after which he graduated from the Kharkiv Vocational Lyceum of Mechanical Engineering, having acquired the profession of a broad-profile lathe and milling cutter. As a child, he played football in the section of the Kharkiv “Metalist”. From an early age, he became interested in the topic of weapons, especially small arms. He studied the history of weapons from encyclopedias and knew its types from the beginning to the middle of the last century. According to the recollections of school teachers, he was restless and often mischievous, which did not prevent him from participating in self-government and having respect among teachers.

In 2012, he began to visit the fan sector “Metalist”. After combining several youth fan groups, Ivan got into the team of SPC. He took an active part in supporting the team, creating performances and football meetings. In the team, where the main value was friendship and mutual support, Ivan found true friends for life.

After the beginning of the Revolution of Dignity, despite his young age, he participated in the opposition to the so-called “Russian Spring” on the streets of Kharkov. Together with friends, they protected people from pro-Russian collaborators on Euromaidan. He even went to Kiev, already at the completion of the capital's Maidan.

When the war began in the East, Ivan and his best friend from the collective promised each other that as soon as they turned 18 they would immediately go to war. In the meantime, he was waiting for adulthood, engaged in public activities in youth organizations. Having kept the word given to each other, together with a friend they went to the KMB to “Azov”, but in the end Ivan joined another unit.

Ivan began his military journey as part of the DUC “Right Sector”, under the command of the legendary Dmitry “Da Vinci” Kotsyubail. Subsequently, he signed a contract with the Armed Forces of Ukraine, becoming a fighter of the 92nd OMBR named after Captain Ivan Sirko. He held the position of chief sergeant of the reconnaissance platoon. Long before the start of a full-scale war, Shchegol was known in the military community for its daring operations, in some places far deep in the front.

Subsequently, he founded and headed the reconnaissance group “Sulfur Misfits”. The reconnaissance unit of the 92nd Brigade committed “skirmishes” against the enemies in Donetsk region, even when other units preferred not to do so. In this mischief, Shchegol showed his military prowess and ingenuity best. In the war, he felt fully realized and saw himself as nothing but military.

At the same time, I did not forget about the fan team. According to the memories of teammates, Ivan always tried to come to an important outing, or a fight. Also, friends mention the remarkable talent of “Shchegla” to build communication between people. One could only envy his ability to bring together completely different people and involve the strengths of each to solve issues. He proposed to his beloved Natalia, with whom they planned to marry in 2023, but did not have time...

With the beginning of a full-scale war, Ivan and his brothers defended Kharkiv region from the enemy. He was wounded, but all the time of treatment he sought to return to his brothers as soon as possible. As before, during the Great War he showed initiative and character, always going first. In April 2022, he received the Order “For Courage” of the 3rd degree. In February 2023, he was awarded the Honorary Badge of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine “Brave Cross”.

Ivan Shchogolev died on March 25, 2023, having received injuries incompatible with life as a result of enemy shelling. On that day, he was returning from his position and had to go pick up a car delivered by volunteers. The death of the brave commander stunned the fan community and the military community. In four days, the farewell took place on the field of the Metalist stadium. He is buried on the Alley of Glory of the city cemetery №18.

In the summer of 2023, a memorial plaque was opened on the building of the school in which Ivan studied. On July 8, 2023, the President of Ukraine signed a decree awarding Ivan Shchogolev the title “Hero of Ukraine” with the award of the Order of the Golden Star (posthumously). In January 2024, the former street was renamed in his honor. Uralic in his native Kharkov.