Mykola Kuliba was born on December 27, 1960, in the village of Sribne, Radyvyliv Raion, Rivne Oblast.
He was the youngest child in the family. Before taking part in the war, Mykola was a police captain. Moreover, he worked on various construction sites of the Ukrainian DIY hypermarkets “Epicenter” as well as was a storekeeper in the cities of Rivne and Lutsk.
Mykola Kuliba (a code name “Diadia (Uncle) Kolia”) previously participated in the Nahirnyi Karabakh War. After the outbreak of war between Russia and Ukraine, he joined the army as a volunteer in order to defend Ukraine. He was a master sergeant and a squad leader of the 24th Assault Battalion Aidar.
Mykola died on May 23, 2016, near the village of Taramchuk, Mariinka Raion, Donetsk Oblast. A car driven by Mykola to the area of the enemy drone crash landing was blown up by an anti-tank mine. He was 55 years old.
Mykola was buried in the village of Sribne, Radyvyliv Raion, Rivne Oblast.
According to the Presidential Executive Order № 306/2016 on June 20, 2016, he was posthumously decorated with the Third Class Order For Bravery “for personal courage and high professionalism demonstrated in the protection of sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, loyalty to the military oath”.
Moreover, Mykola Kyliba was given the title of the Honorary Citizen of the city of Rivne.