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“True Steward of the Land”: Kherson Farmer Olexandr Hordiienko, Who Cleared Thousands of Mines, Killed in Russian Attack
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Olexandr Hordiienko, a Kherson farmer and regional council deputy, became known for defending his fields with a shotgun against Russian drones and personally clearing thousands of mines left on farmland. On September 5, 2025, he was killed when a Russian drone struck his vehicle while he worked in the field.
Olexandr Hordiienko, deputy of the Kherson Regional Council and head of the Association of Farmers of Kherson region, was killed on September 5 when a Russian drone targeted the vehicle he was operating in the field in Beryslav district. The incident was reported in a Telegram post by the head of the regional military administration, Oleksandr Prokudin.
Prokudin confirmed the death, stating: “In the morning, a Russian drone cut short the life of farmer Olexandr Hordiienko. The enemy treacherously attacked the vehicle in which he was working in the field.”
He described Hordiienko as “a true steward of the land, a person who lived by his work, a genuine Ukrainian villager, a son of his country, devoted to his land and people until the very end.”
Hordiienko had more than 30 years of experience in agriculture. He owned and managed the “Hordiienko” farming enterprise and led the regional association of farmers and private landowners, representing the interests of local agricultural producers. Colleagues noted his role in preserving production in frontline areas despite constant danger.
In earlier interviews with Most, Horodienko had spoken openly about working under Russian attacks. He became known for personally defending his fields from enemy drones, using a shotgun and electronic countermeasures.
“The Russians already know me—I always drive with headlights on across the field,” he said in one account. He also described clearing farmland of explosive devices, claiming to have removed around 5,000 anti-tank mines with trucks to allow cultivation to continue.
His death underscores the increasing risks for civilians in frontline farming communities, where Russian forces frequently target agricultural equipment, warehouses, and workers in an effort to disrupt Ukraine’s food production.
Earlier, it was reported that a Russian drone strike on a postal van near Kramatorsk killed a Ukrposhta worker and injured the driver, exemplifying attacks on non-military infrastructure.
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