"Farmer with a gun" Hordiyenko, killed by Russia, posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine
Oleksandr Hordiyenko (photo: MOST)

Kherson farmer Oleksandr Hordiienko, who had a farm in the frontline area, shot down drones and cleared fields by himself, has been posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine. The corresponding decree of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was published on the website of the President's Office on November 10.

"For civic courage, heroic service to the Ukrainian people, demonstrated during the events related to the defense of the independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine, I hereby award the title of Hero of Ukraine with the Order of the Golden Star to Oleksandr Dmytrovych Hordiyenko, head of the NGO "Association of Farmers and Private Landowners of Kherson Region" (posthumously)," the document reads.

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He was not afraid of strangers or his own. The story of an indomitable Kherson "farmer with a gun"

Gordienko was a member of the Kherson Regional Council and owner of the Gordienko farm.

on September 5, he was killed by Russians. Oleksandr Prokudin, the head of the Kherson Regional Military District Administration, reported that a Russian drone attacked Hordiyenko's car while he was working in the field.

The farmer received support from American businessman Howard Buffett and the Harvest of Victory Foundation, which provided combines and tractors for free, allowing him to mow under the cover of the RAB. Hordienko's farm suffered significant losses due to the war: the Russians damaged the base with several bombs, and drones burned the house, tractor, and other equipment.

Gordienko said that he managed to land about a hundred Russian drones, according to Suspilne. He "planted" them with an electronic warfare device and shot them down with a rifle. In addition, after the de-occupation of a part of Kherson region, the farmer cleared hundreds of hectares of fields of mines by himself, removing several thousand anti-tank mines.

on October 21, the Verkhovna Rada supported the awarding of the title of Hero of Ukraine to Hordiyenko, his daughter Alina told Suspilne. Before that, the required 25,000 votes were gained by the corresponding petition.