Andrii Yu. Stiopenko

Grenadier Andriy Stiopenko was killed in action on June 20, 2022, while performing a combat mission near the village of Mykolaivka in Luhansk region. Enemy artillery fire cut short the life of the 21-year-old warrior. Andriy was born in the village of Kulykivka, Chernivtsi region, in a large family. In 2018, he graduated from the Chernivtsi Professional Building College. After studying, he served in the border troops. In December 2021, he was demobilized and returned home. In his free time, he loved to play football and ride horses. During the full-scale Russian invasion, Andriy joined the 109th battalion of the 10th separate mountain assault brigade. He was a grenadier. According to his comrades, he was a good, responsible and reliable friend. "They say that God takes the best. One moment - and everything changed. The heart cries and the soul hurts, the pain of separation does not fade, we mourn... The world has become empty without you. You were our support, advisor, good son and best brother. You always took care of us first, and then yourself. Every day we learn to live anew... without you. We don't believe that you're not with us. You just left! You went away! For a long time, forever... May the birds sing over your grave, may the dew drops guard your rest - these are our tears. Rest in peace, you deserve God's warmth and the Kingdom of Heaven! We miss him very much. He was very positive, always helped everyone, sought to be an example for his nephew David," said the deceased's sister, Anna. The defender was buried in his native village. At home, Andriy's parents and four sisters were waiting for him.