Nikita Kuzmenko - a border guard who changed his life for the victory of Ukraine
Nikita Kuzmenko serves in the Mariupol Marine Guard Detachment. He and his brother continue the military dynasty.
In the late 1980s, Nikita's father, Vladimir, studied in the city of Almaty, at the Higher Border Command School. There he met his future wife, later the couple had a son.
After the collapse of the USSR, the Kuzmenki family moved to the Chernivtsi region for further service from Kazakhstan. Nikita's brother was born there. The mother of two boys also joined the service at the State Fiscal Service. Over time, the entire border family moved to sunny Odessa, and then his father was appointed commander of the Izmail border detachment.
Colonel Vladimir Kuzmenko was fair always and to everyone, extremely demanding, above all to himself. Therefore, he had the undeniable authority and respect of both managers and subordinates. He was said to be a “true commander.”
In March 2008, a terrible disaster occurred. On that day, Nikita was supposed to fly with his father Vladimir to the island of Zmiiny, but there was not enough space in the helicopter. That working flight ended tragically - the border helicopter crashed on the way from Vylkovo to the island. Miraculously, only one survived, all the rest who were on board died. It was a tragedy for every family and service in general. Mom and sons recovered for a long time and learned to live without a husband and father. Recently, the brothers were left without a mother.
Nikita from a young age saw the life of the military. The troopers were his friends. He recalls with what enthusiasm they made the Dembele album, as a “guard” with a wooden machine in the rain of tricks to the thread, but really could feel what it was like to guard the post. The father often took his son with him to the border.
The little one really liked to ride on the army “UAZIK”. It was then that I first tried to get behind the wheel under the supervision of adults. He recalls how he went with his father to the training ground and rode in a military BTRI.
Nikita was engaged in athletics, has a sports category. Participated in state and regional competitions, has many awards.
How did the children of the military live? Nikita changed six schools. Every time a new teacher, a new class. Also a kind of hardening. He says that it was always easy for him to merge into a new team. He has a light temper and quickly finds a common language with people, so he has many friends all over Ukraine. Subordinates characterize him as a fair leader who makes balanced decisions - just like his father.
The father categorically refused his son from a military career. And Nikita had to promise that he would never become a military man. My father dreamed that even his grandchildren would grow up in the same city and not depend on parental services. So that sons can often be with their relatives, see how their children grow up, attend children's parties in kindergartens. He gave his word, he should have kept it.
And Nikita kept it. He liked architecture and design, because he draws and calculates very skillfully. First he graduated from agricultural technical school and obtained the qualification of “technician — builder”, later received a diploma from the Academy of Construction and Architecture. He became a specialist in industrial and civil construction. He graduated from the technical school and the academy with honors. While studying, he worked as a DJ in the nightclubs of Odessa and on the coast — he aspired to have his own money.
Work in Odessa was enough for a young specialist. The city is constantly being built. He worked in project bureaus, gained experience and ambition. He was sure that later he would become a well-known architect and create a building no less famous than the Odessa Opera Theater. So it was until February 24, 2022.
The war changed another fate, forced him to break the promise given to his father. The duty to protect your family and homeland came to the fore. The choice was obvious - the ranks of the State Border Service of Ukraine.
Today Nikita Kuzmenko, as a true patriot, husband and father, together with his brother and brothers is defending Ukraine. At home, his wife Irina and his newborn daughter Emilia are waiting for him, who are his main motivator in the struggle for his native country.
The border guard firmly believes in two major projects for the near future - a victory and an architectural masterpiece that he designs himself.
State Border Guard Service of Ukraine
