Andrii S. Stromenko

Senior soldier Andrii Strochenko was killed on May 15, 2022, while performing a combat mission near the village of Novozvanivka in the Luhansk region. The defender was 25 years old. Andrii was born in Lviv. He stu at the local school No. 7. He loved to cook very much, so he had no doubts about his career choice. He graduated from the Lviv Higher Vocational School of Technologies and Services. He worked as a cook and dreamed of opening a family bakery. He was interested in history and could talk for hours about significant events in the formation of Ukraine. He read a lot, loved animals, mountains, fishing, and swimming. He was fascinated by parachuting and dreamed of a large family, a house, and a garden. From 2017 to 2020, he served under contract in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He participated in the Anti-Terrorist Operation/Joint Forces Operation. His family persuaded him to return to civilian life after his service. Andrii agreed but said he would join the army when a great war began. And he kept his word. When the full-scale invasion began, he was working in Poland. He immediately decided to return home. After several attempts to join the military, Andrii became a fighter in the 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade named after King Daniel. "I am a fiancée who was not destined to become a wife and mother. Andrii said he was going to protect us so that the orc invaders would not come to us. He promised to tell children and grandchildren about this war in his old age. He dreamed of a strong Ukraine. He was compassionate, sincere, sociable, and always ready to help. He loved to joke and turned any problem into a joke. He often made surprises, bringing such large bouquets that all my friends came to see. As a student, he escaped to Maidan, deceiving his mother. Since then, he wanted to be a soldier very much. When the full-scale invasion started, he traveled to Lviv through Volhynia. For a month, no one took him to the front line. He ran around all the military recruitment offices in our city and called guys at the front to find a way to get to the front as soon as possible. He dreamed a lot about family and a daughter, but those dreams never came true," said his beloved Tetiana. "Andrii was a wonderful person. A caring son. A true patriot, brave, confident, intelligent, and sincere. He had great plans for the future that he never managed to realize. You are our Hero! We will always remember you! Thank God for such a BROTHER!" said the deceased's cousin Oksana. The serviceman was buried in the village of Bartatov in the Lviv region, where his father is from. Andrii is survived by his mother, grandmother, aunts, cousins, and beloved. Posthumously, Senior Soldier Andrii Strochenko was awarded the Order of "For Courage" III degree.