A heroic Russian soldier killed when he called an air strike on himself when he was surrounded by ISIS jihadis in Syria has become a father from beyond the grave after his widow gave birth to a baby girl.

Alexander 'Sasha' Prokhorenko's wife Ekaterina had their daughter four months after died in the bloody battle to save Palmyra.

The Russian air strike killed the 25-year-old special forces soldier but also wiped out the band of Islamic militants who had surrounded him.

Heartbreak: Alexander 'Sasha' Prokhorenko's wife Ekaterina (right) gave birth to a daughter about four months after losing him (left) when sacrificed himself battling to save Palmyra

Bravery: The special forces soldier (pictured on his wedding day) called in an airstrike on his position near the ancient Syrian city when he was surrounded by ISIS jihadis

Courage: 'They are here. This is the end, commander, thank you,' he said in his final communication from the battlefield second before he died

'They are here. This is the end, commander, thank you,' he said in his final communication from the battlefields second before he died.

'Please, tell my family and my country, whom I love. Tell them that I was brave and I was fighting, but I can no longer do anything.

'Please take care of my family, avenge my death. Goodbye, commander. Tell my family — I love them.'

Medal: His act of astonishing courage earned him the posthumous award of Russia's highest medal for gallantry in a decree issued by President Vladimir Putin

Delight: The birth of his daughter Violetta was announced by Yuri Berg, governor of Orenburg region, who said: 'This good news has brought sincere joy'

Protecting innocents: The governor said the self-effacing Hero of Russia perished seeking to make the world safe from terrorism, but her birth showed 'life goes on'

His act of astonishing courage earned him the posthumous award of Russia's highest medal for gallantry in a decree issued by President Vladimir Putin.

When he died on 17 March, Ekaterina, 28, did not know if she was expecting a boy or girl.

The birth of Violetta was announced by Yuri Berg, governor of Orenburg region, who said: 'This good news has brought sincere joy.'

He said the self-effacing Hero of Russia perished seeking to make the world safe from terrorism, but her birth showed 'life goes on'.

'He died so that little Violetta and millions of children worldwide would never see the horrors of vile terrorist attacks,' he said.

'For now Sasha's daughter does her main job - eating and sleeping.

'But after a few years, when she's old enough, she will learn about her father.

'And she will be proud of him, as we all are proud of our fellow countryman.'

Grief: A poem penned by Ekaterina and originally posted on the day she heard of her husband's death in Syria is now visible on her social media, showing her anguish at his demise

Remembered: When he died, a Russian military spokesman said: 'An officer of Russian special operations forces was killed near Palmyra while carrying out a special task to direct Russian air strikes at Islamic State group targets'

Joy: The lieutenant's old teacher Petr Rusinov said: 'I am very happy that my former pupil, Hero of Russia Sasha Prokhorenko, has a daughter.' Pictured: Ekaterina on her wedding day

The senior lieutenant's former teacher Petr Rusinov said: 'I am very happy that my former pupil, Hero of Russia Sasha Prokhorenko, has a daughter.

'I'm happy for the mother Katyusha [Ekaterina] that she is well....

'Hopefully, Violetta will inherit father's beautiful eyes - such a fiery burning.

'I wish her to be smart, with a sense of humour, a little mischievous, and like to sing, in the same way as her father Sasha.'

At his wedding almost two years ago, Alexander said that he felt 'the happiest man in the world'.

'His voice trembled as he said that everything he wished for was coming to him,' according to one account.

'He wanted to serve in the army and became a military, he wanted to have the best wife in the world, and there she was for him.'

No pictures have yet emerged of the child.

Daddy's eyes: 'Hopefully, Violetta will inherit father's beautiful eyes - such a fiery burning', said Rusinov

Hero: Sasha has been hailed as a national hero for his deed and that he died so 'little Violetta and millions of children worldwide would never see the horrors of vile terrorist attacks'

Beautiful memories: At his wedding almost two years ago, Alexander said that he felt 'the happiest man in the world'

But a poem penned by Ekaterina and originally posted on the day she heard of her husband's death in Syria - more than a week after he was killed - is now visible on her social media, showing her anguish at his demise.

When he died, a Russian military spokesman said: 'An officer of Russian special operations forces was killed near Palmyra while carrying out a special task to direct Russian air strikes at Islamic State group targets.

'The officer was carrying out a combat task in Palmyra area for a week, identifying crucial IS targets and passing exact coordinates for strikes with Russian planes.

'The officer died as a hero, he drew fire onto himself after being located and surrounded by terrorists.'

When his remains were finally returned to Russia in May, his coffin was saluted by Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu.

'We have lost a reliable combat comrade, a courageous and faithful son of the Fatherland. A true officer, a fearless combatant and a patriot, he performed his military duty with dignity.

Tribute: When his coffin returned to Russia, he was saluted by the deputy defense minister who called him 'a reliable combat comrade, a courageous and faithful son of the Fatherland'

Final words: 'Please, tell my family and my country, whom I love. Tell them that I was brave and I was fighting, but I can no longer do anything,' Sasha said in his last communications

'He sacrificed himself while defending the national interests of Russia and peace on Syrian soil,' said deputy defence minister Nikolai Pankov said at the farewell ceremony at the Chkalovsky aerodrome.

'The cherished memory of Hero of Russia, Senior Lieutenant Prokhorenko will always remain in our hearts.