Sergei Zhurikov
Ukrainian separatist military commander
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Sergei Nikolayevich Zhurikov (Russian: Сергей Николаевич Журиков; also Serhiy Zhurikov, Ukrainian: Сергій Журіков; 21 November 1980 – 2 May 2014) was a Ukrainian collaborator and commander[1] of the Donbas People's Militia in the secessionist Donetsk People's Republic during the war in Donbas. He was killed during the siege of Sloviansk fighting against Ukrainian government forces.
Sergei Nikolayevich Zhurikov | |
|---|---|
| Native name | Сергей Николаевич Журиков (Сергій Миколайович Журіков) |
| Nickname | Romashka |
| Born | 21 November 1980 |
| Died | 2 May 2014 (aged 33) |
Cause of death | Killed in Action |
| Allegiance |  Donetsk People's Republic |
Branch | Donbas People's Militia |
Conflicts | |
Biography
Zhurikov was born in Sevastopol (Crimea) on November 21, 1980. Before the Russo-Ukrainian War, he served as a sacristan in Kyiv Pechersk Lavra.[2]
During the Russo-Ukrainian War he joined separatist forces under the nom de guerre "Romashka" ("Daisy"),[3] and became one of the leaders of the Sloviansk militia.
Death
During the early morning on 2 May 2014, Ukrainian government forces launched a large-scale operation to retake the city of Sloviansk, starting the second offensive.[4] During the fighting in the center of Sloviansk Sergei Zhurikov was shot by a sniper of the Ukrainian army in May 2, 2014. However, in a 2019 interview, fellow collaborator and fighter Andriy "Veter" Eremenko claimed that Zhurikov was executed by unknown assailants while in a bathroom indoors.[5]
After his death he was buried in Seredyna-Buda, Sumy Oblast of Ukraine according to the wishes of his mother.[6][7]
Legacy
Russian poet Ivan Belokrylov dedicated a poem to Sergei Zhurikov called "Ballad of a Sexton".[8]