Mykola "Utka" Tsymliakov was a fan of the Dnipro football club and a member of the River Sharks Firm.
Mykola Oleksandrovych Tsymliakov was born on August 29, 1985, in Dnipro. He attended Slobozhanske Secondary School No. 1 before enrolling in the Faculty of Geology and Geography at Oles Honchar Dnipro National University. During his student years, he loved playing the guitar, gathering friends around him and lifting their spirits with cheerful songs, creating an atmosphere of friendship and good cheer.
His love for football also began in childhood. He could spend hours watching matches, admiring the legendary Paraguayan goalkeeper José Luis Chilavert, who became his true idol and a model of sportsmanship. Over time, this childhood hobby grew into a lifelong passion. He spent all his free time with friends on the pitch, participating in friendly matches and amateur tournaments as both a goalkeeper and an outfield player. In 2008, he became the captain of the "Dnipro-Fans" and joined the team in the Eurofan tournament—a gathering of fans from around the world—where the Dnipro team emerged victorious.
At the same time, he was also passionate about kickboxing and track and field. He ran marathons for his school, won awards, and even spent some time as a professional athlete at the SDYUSHOR No. 3 sports school.
Mykola had been part of the Dnipro fan sector since he was 16. A couple of years later, he joined the RSF group. Nothing could break their fan spirit; to see their favorite team play, they would sometimes even travel as stowaways when train tickets were impossible to get.
In his civilian life, Mykola joined the family business, laying paving stones—always, as he put it, "doing it right." In the evenings, he would work behind the bar at his favorite spot, "Pyvoman," where fans gathered. He was the true heart and soul of the place. In 2010, he took on a new role: fatherhood, with the birth of his daughter, Lia.
He volunteered for theatrical tours at the Dmytro Yavornytsky National Historical Museum of Dnipro. He also took an interest in blacksmithing and tried his hand at the craft; one memorable photo shows him forging a metal rose for his beloved. During the full-scale invasion, he contributed items from the war to the museum's collection.
With the start of the full-scale war, "Utka" took up arms with the 98th Azov-Dnipro Territorial Defense Battalion. He defended the country alongside his fellow club members and friends from the fan movement, later joining the newly formed 3rd Separate Assault Brigade. At the same time, he was pursuing a law degree through correspondence courses at the Volodymyr Dahl East Ukrainian National University.
His brothers-in-arms will remember Mykola as the life of the party, always in good spirits, yet a courageous man. He performed his military duties with dedication and professionalism. He was awarded the Steel Cross by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Mykola Tsymliakov died on July 9, 2023. Until his last breath, he loved Dnipro and Ukraine. He is buried in the urban-type settlement of Slobozhanske (Dnipro district). In May 2026, a memorial football tournament was held in honor of Mykola "Utka," featuring participants from various generations of the fan movement and former Dnipro players.
Eternal honor to the Hero!
