Nikita “Nekit” Afanasiev is a fan of the football club “Polissya” (Zhytomyr), a representative of the team “White ZT Family”.
Nikita Dmitrievich Afanasiev was born on September 14, 1994 in the city of Bryanka (Luhansk region). He studied at the city school No. 23, then at the Bryansk vocational lyceum, where he received the qualification of an electric and gas welder. Since childhood, he was persistent and purposeful: he won prize places at school Olympiads, played on the QC team and was a participant in the “What? Where? When?”. He was fond of playing checkers, played in competitions. He paid the most attention to football. In 2012, he was awarded a diploma for participation in the Ukrainian Football Cup Euro 2012 among schoolchildren.
In 2014, due to the beginning of hostilities in the East, he left his hometown together with his family, moving to Zhytomyr. In the 2018/19 season he came to the fan sector “Polissya”. According to the memories of his teammates, Nikita loved football and fans from Liverpool with all his heart. Perhaps this was the impetus that led him to the ultra-collective WZTF. He met many fans even earlier, working as a bartender in one of the favorite establishments of the movement, and therefore joining the team was not difficult for him.
- “On his own initiative, he became a drummer - without any musical education, but with such inspiration that the sector felt his every rhythm. How the flame burned in his eyes when he charged the podium! Thanks to this, he very quickly gained authority among the guys and became the main drummer of our movement,” the friends from the movement recall.
In civilian life, Nikita was a very calm and friendly person. Had a sense of style and was well known in a narrow circle of those who value sincerity and lively communication. Working as a bartender in several Zhytomyr establishments, he planned to become a brewer in the future.
In school years, he met his future wife Julia, and in the summer of 2014, their daughter Alice was born. Within a few years, the couple divorced. IN 2015 In the year Nikita met Victoria, they worked together and later fell in love with each other. He was a courageous, devoted and loving husband, a wonderful son and brother. He dreamed of a bright future, a happy life next to his family.
On the first day of the full-scale war, Nikita arrived at the Military Admissions Office, fought as part of the 115th Troop Brigade, 141 Battalion. During the service he was awarded for “courage” by the Ovruc community, for the lives saved in the fire. According to the memories of his teammates, Nekit was that rare person who kept his balance even when the world was crumbling from all sides. Balanced, responsive and alert - this is how he will be remembered.
“We came to the Armed Forces from the first days of the war, still quite “fresh” civilians, and fate decreed that we got into one company, became comrades from the first day. One of the events of those first weeks I will never forget. There was information that the enemy column could move to Zhytomyr. The unit was raised urgently, we went on the defensive. “Nekita” was then placed in a hidden position to be the first to detect the enemy if he appeared. February month, cold, light clothes, because no one thought that everything would drag on for so long. And he sat there for eight hours all alone. For some, this is a trifle, but we all understood how it was not easy when you were still living a peaceful life yesterday.
The enemy never reached Zhytomyr. Around three o'clock at night we returned to the unit: frozen, exhausted, hungry. And Nikita kept it as if all this was routine for him. He did not boast, did not pretend to be a hero. I was just doing what I thought was right.
Then there was the Donbas. When the need arose to take the most difficult section, the riskiest position, he was among those who came forward without further words. He did not run in the hero, he simply could not have otherwise. He was someone you could always rely on. For me, “Nekit” is an example of humanity and resilience. A man who did not seek fame, but did his job to the end. A brother with whom we have walked a path that is difficult to explain to those who have not seen him,” says one of the friends in arms.
On December 14, 2023, Nikita Afanasiev, together with the unit, took the fight to the N.P. Klishchiivka (Donetsk region). His unit suffered losses and he himself was taken prisoner. On the same day, Russian propagandists released a story with Nikita, but this was the last time he was seen alive. For the next year and 5 months, relatives and friends waited for news of the fate of “Nekit”, until DNA examination showed no coincidence. Awarded Honorary Badge 115th Brigade of TRO (posthumously). He was buried at the Smolyan military cemetery in Zhytomyr.
Eternal glory to the Hero!
