Artem O. Karpenko

Senior soldier Artem Karpenko was killed on January 23, 2023 in a battle with Russian occupiers near the settlement of Krasna Hora in the Donetsk region. The 25-year-old defender's life was cut short by enemy artillery fire. Artem was born in the village of Pokrovska Bahachka, Poltava region. He completed 8 grades of secondary school. Then he acquired the profession of an electric welder at the Poltava Vocational Lyceum. After graduation, he returned to his native village. He worked as a specialist at the local SVC "Bahachansky" farm. He served his military service in the National Guard of Ukraine. Later, he also acquired the profession of a tiler-finisher and applied his skills in the construction industry in Kyiv. During the full-scale Russian invasion, Artem served in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He underwent training in the Lviv region. Subsequently, he took the position of a rifleman-medic in the 77th separate air assault brigade of the Air Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He took part in hostilities in the Donetsk region. "Artem was a loving son, caring brother and nephew, a sincere friend, a faithful comrade-in-arms and a defender. He never lost heart and always reassured all his loved ones with the words: 'I am strong!' In our hearts, he will forever remain a cheerful and life-loving person," said the deceased's cousin Anna. The defender was buried in his native village. Artem is survived by his mother Natalia Ivanivna and father Oleksandr Anatoliyovych. They lost their only son.