Russians kill Oleksandr Hordiyenko, farmer who fought back with a rifle

Russian occupation forces killed Kherson farmer Oleksandr Hordiyenko, a member of the Kherson Regional Council, owner of the Hordiyenko farm, and head of the Association of Farmers and Private Landowners of Kherson Region. The news was reported by the head of the Kherson Regional Military Administration, Oleksandr Prokudin.

"I can't believe it. On Tuesday, we were still talking at a joint meeting, and today I have already received the tragic news. This morning, a Russian drone ended the life of farmer Oleksandr Hordiyenko. The enemy treacherously struck the car he was driving while working in the field," Prokudin wrote on Telegram.

Hordiyenko became known for his resilience in farming despite constant Russian attacks. He received support from American businessman Howard Buffett and the Harvest of Victory Foundation, which provided him with free combines and tractors, enabling him to harvest under the protection of electronic warfare (EW) systems.

His farm, located in Beryslav before the war, is less than 15 kilometers from Russian positions, leaving his fields highly vulnerable to drones and artillery fire. The farm suffered severe losses: Russian bombs destroyed his base, while drones burned his house, tractor, and other equipment.

Hordiyenko actively resisted Russian drones, jamming them with electronic warfare and shooting them down with a rifle. He claimed to have downed about a hundred drones, Suspilne reported.

After the liberation of the right bank of Kherson region, he personally demined hundreds of hectares of farmland, removing several thousand anti-tank mines.