Oleksii "Tykhyi" Naida was a fan of Dynamo Kyiv football club and a member of the "Young Hope" group.

Oleksii Romanovych Naida was born on August 1, 1996, in Kyiv. He attended School No. 320 before enrolling at the Yuriy Buhai International University of Science and Technology. He was passionate about sports from childhood, starting with football at the encouragement of his father—his ultimate role model—and later moving on to boxing. As the smallest boy in his class, Oleksii quickly learned how to stand up for himself. His coaches were often amazed by his persistence; despite lacking the typical physical build for boxing, his sheer determination allowed him to step into the ring and defeat masters of the sport in just a few rounds. His modest and quiet nature earned him the nickname "Tykhyi" (The Quiet One), which later became his call sign in both the fan movement and the military.

Oleksii first joined the Dynamo fan sector in 2016 and became a member of the "Young Hope" group within a year. After participating in just a few fights, he was soon representing the group in international clashes against Belarusian fans. He consistently demonstrated high-level skill in these encounters, and his actions were often the deciding factor that helped his group overcome their opponents.

His teammates remember "Tykhyi" as an exceptional partner. "It didn't matter if it was a fight, a trip, or any other task—he was a reliable shoulder to lean on, someone who made you feel at ease just by being there. If Lyokha was around, you knew everything would be alright. He fought with such intensity that his punches earned him the nickname 'iron gloves'."

"We watched the sunrise together in Prague after a night spent in a car on an away trip. We slept in a field near Maastricht airport in February. We walked through Athens with the core group of Kyiv fans, waiting for surprises around every corner. We were ready to face a hundred Neapolitans in Kyiv with a group of fewer than 30. And that visit from Beşiktaş... anyone who remembers it will never forget. Hitchhiking across Europe, incredible journeys, top-tier fights, and competitions where Lyokha was always the first. Mass brawls, highway chases, epic European away games, and victories for Dynamo and the 'Young Hope' group."

"A true adventurer. A person linked to countless moments that will stay in our memories forever. The best times were with the best people," his friends from the fan sector recall.

In civilian life, Oleksii initially pursued a professional sports career, training and coaching at the "Kozak" club in Kyiv. He became a master of sports in boxing and won the Ukrainian Free-Fight Championship. Later, he found his calling in IT, working as a blockchain developer for the company "1000GEEKS." His family remembers that despite his very quiet nature, he would open up among those close to him, becoming the life and soul of the party.

He met his future wife, Viktoriia, in 2016, and they began dating in 2019. They married a year later, and their daughter, Amaliia, was born that same year. Oleksii was a loving father who did everything he could to provide a decent life for his family.

From the very first days of the full-scale invasion, Oleksii joined his friends and fellow club members from the "Honor" movement to defend the Kyiv region. His father and brother also joined him in defending their hometown. His brothers-in-arms recall that despite having no prior combat experience, he learned incredibly quickly. He studied on his own, reading military literature and researching every available resource to ensure his own survival and that of his comrades. From the start, "Tykhyi" displayed natural leadership qualities and a desire to keep everything under control.

After the liberation of the Kyiv region, he joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine as part of the Dmytro Kotsiubailo "Da Vinci Wolves" battalion, continuing to defend the country and liberating the Kharkiv region from the enemy. During the defense of Bakhmut, he took part in the battle for the "Road of Life," the only route into the city. While on duty at his position, he repelled an assault, personally eliminated eight enemies, held the line, and saved the lives of his comrades. For a long time, the entire country watched the footage from "Tykhyi's" body camera over and over, repeating his words: "This is our landing strip!"

Oleksii led many more operations. He rose from soldier to junior sergeant and served as a platoon commander. His brothers-in-arms recall that when engaging in close-quarters combat, he didn't just try to complete the mission—he would shout at the invaders, teaching them a moral lesson. During his service, he was awarded the "Cross of Bravery."

Oleksii Naida was killed on July 19, 2023, during a close-quarters firefight in the Kharkiv region. After falling into an enemy ambush near the village of Lyman Pershyi, the unit's fighters held their ground until the very end. As of the summer of 2026, his family and comrades are still awaiting the opportunity to bid farewell to this brave defender.

To mark the first anniversary of Oleksii Naida's death, the "Kozak" club held a boxing tournament, which has since become an annual event.

Eternal honor to the Hero!

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