“We put all our love here”: the family of a fallen soldier from Vinnytsia opened the bookstore of his dreams

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A bookstore was opened in Vinnytsia in memory of journalist and soldier Mykola Rachko, who died in Donetsk region in July 2022.

The 27-year-old military man dreamed of opening his own bookstore, so Mykola’s parents and sister decided to create the literary space he dreamed of.

The “Heroes” bookstore opened its doors on January 29, on the Day of Remembrance of Heroes of Krut.

Mykola Rachka Antonina’s sister told “Ukrainian Pravda. Life” about how the family immortalized his memory.

Mykola Rachok served in the 58th separate motorized infantry brigade named after Vyhovsky Photo: mykola_rachok/Instagram

Mykola Rachok graduated from the Vinnytsia Technical Lyceum, and then from the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy National University, majoring in Philology.

He worked as a journalist, editorial editor of the magazine “Kunsht”, and was also the editor of the automobile portal InfoCar.

From the first days of the full-scale invasion, 27-year-old Mykola joined the army. He served in the 58th separate motorized infantry brigade named after Hetman Ivan Vyhovskyi.

July 21, 2022 – died in a battle with the “Wagnerivites” in Donetsk region. His unit stopped the breakthrough and destroyed the enemy in that battle. On August 17, 2023, Mykola was posthumously awarded the Order “For Courage” III degree.

In civilian life, Mykola was a philologist, a journalist, and loved poetry. In the photo Mykola with his sister Antonina

“Kolya is special. I’m not saying that because he’s my brother. He’s truly a person you’ll never forget once you meet him. That was the case with everyone who knew him. He was loving, caring, sincere, deep and very, very He always respected and accepted everyone’s opinion and position, even if he did not share it.

What I liked most about him was that Kolya never held a grudge against anyone. It would seem that the “offend” function was not built into it.– recalls Antonina’s sister Lyulka-Rachok.

In 10 months, the family of the fallen hero created a bookstore in his memory in Vinnytsia

Mykola Rachok was always fond of literature: he studied it, loved to read, wrote poems himself and dreamed of his own bookstore in the capital.

During his life, he repeatedly told his sister that he should take up this matter, but he never had time because of the war. So the family began to do everything to preserve the memory of Mykola.

“He wanted it to be a bookstore-café on Podil in Kyiv. He loved Kyiv absolutely and irrevocably, he did not think of himself as apart from the capital. He loved all the opportunities that Kyiv provided and the people he happened to meet there. Therefore, when he it didn’t happen, we knew exactly where to start – from the bookstore.

Then we will realize his other dreams. They are just as wonderful. But this one was to be the first. The place is really special – we put all our love into it“, – shares Antonina.

All the love was put into the bookstore, says Antonina

The girl worked on the bookstore together with her parents: they shared the responsibilities, but consulted each other on each point. The family lived by working on “Heroes” – and it gave them strength. Antonina recalls that it was often difficult for her physically, but she had so much energy that fatigue receded.

Various Ukrainian and foreign literature is presented in the bookstore. On the shelves there are many fiction and children’s books, journalism, non-fiction. And soon the owners of the bookstore want to buy literature in foreign languages ​​- they have already received many such requests.

Opening photo/Heroes Bookstore/Facebook

“We fill one of the racks with a different publishing house every week. We do this so that residents of Vinnytsia and guests of the city get acquainted not only with works and authors, but also with publishing houses, because each of them has its own idea. Kolya taught us this.

We work with those whom he loved and respected. At the same time, we did not sign agreements with publishers whose policies Kolya did not support. We talked about this with him during our lifetime”– shares the sister.

The “Heroes” bookstore works on the street. Mykola Ovodova, 17/3

Mykola’s family worked on creating a bookstore for 10 months. On January 27, 2024, only the final touch remains. Mykola’s friends came to the bookstore for the memorial evening. Together with Antonina, they hung a sign with the name on the door.

“We always talked, saw each other on holidays, but now they are more than friends. They are part of the family. We feel tremendous support. My dad and mom are very grateful to each of them.” – says Antonina.

The next day, relatives were invited to the bookstore. And already on January 29, the space for connoisseurs of literature opened its doors to everyone.

Mykola’s family met representatives of many organizations, including VeteranHub and several volunteer communities – now the bookstore plans to cooperate with them.

At the opening of the bookstore on January 29, there were many guests who came to honor Mykola’s memory

“On January 29, we were waiting for the people of Vinnytsia, but we could not imagine that so many people would come to the bookstore. They brought flowers and gifts.

I know everyone here is fine because we wanted to make the bookstore a place where you want to linger“, – says Antonina.

Now the family is learning to work in a bookstore, because it is a new field for each of them. They are slowly filling the calendar of events, inviting visitors.

Meetings with writers, publishers, military personnel, volunteers and journalists are planned here every Saturday.

The bookstore has many fiction books, non-fiction, children’s literature, and more

“Our main goal is to create a space that will allow readers to get acquainted with authors, illustrators, and journalists.

We will certainly invite reporters, volunteers, volunteers – everyone who has something to say to society. Our doors are open for them“, Antonina emphasizes.

Read also: A breeder from Dnipro bred a variety of violets, which he dedicated to the fallen poet and soldier Maksym Kryvtsov

The doors of “Heroes” are open to all residents of Vinnytsia and guests of the city, says Antonina

The bookstore is located in Vinnytsia near the Artynov Tower on the street. Mykola Ovodova, 17/3. It works from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. without days off.

Read also: “For us, “after the victory” has not come.” The story of a woman who lost her husband in the war and went to the front

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