Sergei Zhurikov

Sergei Nikolayevich Zhurikov (Сергей Николаевич Журиков; 21 November 1980 – 2 May 2014) was a commander of the Donbas People's Militia in the secessionist Donetsk People's Republic during the war in Donbas. He was killed in the siege of Sloviansk fighting against Ukrainian government forces.

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.

During the Russo-Ukrainian War he joined separatist forces under the nom de guerre "Romashka" ("Daisy"), and became one of the leaders of 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. During the fighting in the center of Sloviansk Sergei Zhurikov was shot by a sniper of the Ukrainian army in May 2, 2014. After death he was buried in Seredyna-Buda, Sumy Oblast of Ukraine.

Legacy
Russian poet dedicated a poem to Sergei Zhurikov called "Ballad of a Sexton".