Olesya Vadimovna Sokur
Olesya Vadimovna Sokur | |
|---|---|
| Born | 25 August 1960 Uman, Ukraine |
| Died | 1 January 2025 (aged 64) Kyiv, Ukraine |
| Alma mater | Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv |
| Occupations | Biologist and biochemist |
| Spouse | Igor Zima |
Olesya Vadimovna Sokur (25 August 1960 – 1 January 2025) (in Ukrainian Сокур Олеся Вадимівна) was a Ukrainian biologist and biochemist and Doctor of Biological Sciences. She was tragically killed during a Russian drone attack on a Kyiv residence during the Russo-Ukrainian War.[1][2][3]
Biography
Sokur was born on 25 August 1960 in the city of Uman, Ukraine. In 1982, she graduated from the Faculty of Biology of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv with a degree in Biologist-biochemist, Teacher of biology and chemistry.
She worked at the Institute of Clinical Radiology of the Scientific Center for Radiation Medicine of the Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine. She met her neurobiologist husband there and also defended her PhD thesis at the Academy on antioxidant systems in regions affected by the Chernobyl disaster.[4][5]
In 2001, she was employed at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv as a senior research associate and head of the research laboratory Physical and Chemical Research Methods[5] and as a member of the Academic Council.[6]
Beginning in 2003, Sokur held administrative positions as Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Biology and Deputy Director of the National Scientific Center "Institute of Biology and Medicine" for scientific work.[5]
Scientific activity
Sokur studied the biochemical mechanisms of cell damage in gastrointestinal tract pathologies.[5] She authored "almost 200 publications, spoke at domestic and international scientific meetings (congresses of the biochemical, physiological and biophysical societies of Ukraine, international congresses on biochemistry and gastroenterology)."[7]
Death
On the morning of 1 January 2025, during a Russian drone attack on the capital city of Kyiv, drone fragments fell into the city center, in the Pechersk district. Some fell into the residential building on Bankova Street where Sokur lived with her husband, neurobiologist Igor Zima. She and her husband were killed, and seven other people were injured in that attack.[1][2][7]
References
- ^ a b "У Києві внаслідок дронової атаки загинуло подружжя науковців". www.ukrinform.ua (in Ukrainian). 2025-01-01. Retrieved 2025-10-24.
- ^ a b "Renowned Ukrainian scientists killed in Russian drone strike on Kyiv home". New Voice. Retrieved 2025-10-24.
- ^ "Russia's New Year's Day attack on Kyiv kills two prominent scientists". euronews. 2025-01-02. Retrieved 2025-10-24.
- ^ "Присвятили життя студентам та біології: що відомо про науковців, яких убила Росія у Києві". 24 Канал (in Ukrainian). 2025-01-02. Retrieved 2025-10-24.
- ^ a b c d "Prominent neuroscientist and biochemist: renowned scientist couple killed in Kyiv in Russian attack". Ukrainska Pravda. Retrieved 2025-10-24.
- ^ "Prominent scientists among victims of New Year's Day drone attack in Kyiv". The Kyiv Independent. 2025-01-01. Retrieved 2025-10-24.
- ^ a b "Російський Шахед вбив науковця Ігора Зиму та його дружину – що відомо про сімʼю". ТСН.ua (in Ukrainian). 2025-01-02. Retrieved 2025-10-24.