Ivan "Shchegol" Shchogolev is a fan of the "Metalist" football club (Kharkiv), a representative of the "Simmer Polecats Crew" team.

Ivan Yevgenovich Shchogolev was born on July 6, 1998 in the city of Kharkiv. He studied at school No. 52, after which he graduated from the Kharkiv Vocational Lyceum of Mechanical Engineering, having acquired the specialty of turner-miller of a wide profile. As a child, he played football in the Kharkiv "Metalist" section. From an early age, he became interested in the subject of weapons, especially small arms. He studied the history of weapons in encyclopedias and knew their types from the beginning and middle of the last century. According to the memories of several teachers, he was restless and often quarreled, which did not prevent him from participating in self-governance and having respect among teachers.

In 2012, he began visiting the "Metalista" fan section. After uniting several youth fan groups, Ivan got into the SPC team. Took an active part in supporting the team, creating performances and football-related meetings. In a team where the main value was friendship and mutual support, Ivan found true friends for life.

After the start of the Revolution of Dignity, despite his young age, he participated in the resistance to the so-called "Russian Spring" on the streets of Kharkiv. Together with friends, they protected people from pro-Russian collaborators on the Euromaidan. He even went to Kyiv, already near the completion of the capital's Maidan.

When the war began in the East, Ivan and his best friend from the team promised each other that as soon as they turned 18, they would immediately go to fight. While he was waiting for adulthood, he was engaged in social activities in youth organizations. Having kept their word to each other, together with a friend they went to the KMB to "Azov", but in the end Ivan joined another unit.

Ivan began his military career as a member of the Pravyi Sektor DUK, under the command of the legendary Dmytro "Da Vinci" Kotsyubail. Subsequently, he signed a contract with the Armed Forces, becoming a soldier of the 92nd OMBr named after of the basket chieftain Ivan Sirk. He held the position of chief sergeant of the reconnaissance platoon. Long before the start of a full-scale war, the Goldfinch was known in the military community for its daring operations, sometimes deep into the front.

Subsequently, he founded and headed the Besketniki Sirka reconnaissance group. The reconnaissance unit of the 92nd brigade carried out "beshket" on the enemy in Donetsk region, even when other units preferred not to do it. In this skirmish, the Goldfinch best demonstrated its military skill and ingenuity. In the war, he felt fully realized and did not see himself as anyone else, except as a soldier.

At the same time, I did not forget about the fan team. According to the memories of his teammates, Ivan always tried to come to an important trip or a fight. Friends also mention the extraordinary talent of "Goldfish" for building communication between people. One could only envy his ability to unite completely different people and involve everyone's strengths to solve issues. He proposed to his beloved Natalya, whom they planned to marry in 2023, but did not have time...

With the beginning of a full-scale war, Ivan and his brothers defended Kharkiv Oblast from the enemy. He was injured, but throughout the treatment he sought to return to his brothers as soon as possible. As before, during the great war he showed initiative and character, always going first. In April 2022, he received the Order "For Courage" III degree. In February 2023, he was awarded the "Brave Cross" badge of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Ivan Shchogolev died on March 25, 2023, having received non-life-threatening injuries as a result of enemy fire. On that day, he was returning from the positions and had to go to pick up a car delivered by volunteers. The death of the courageous commander shocked the fanatical public and the military community. In four days, a farewell was held on the field of the "Metalist" stadium. He was buried on the Alley of Glory of the city cemetery No. 18.

In the summer of 2023, a memorial plaque was unveiled on the building of the school where Ivan studied. On July 8, 2023, the President of Ukraine signed a decree awarding Ivan Shtogolev the title of "Hero of Ukraine" with the award of the "Golden Star" order (posthumously). In January 2024, the former street was renamed in his honor. Uralsk in his native Kharkiv.