Denys O. Karpenko

Karpenko Denys Olehovych was born on October 28, 1996 in Oleksandriia, Kirovohrad Oblast. His birthday fell on a symbolic date - the Day of Liberation of Ukraine from the Nazis in World War II. Denys' father was a reserve serviceman, who served at the Guard Aviation Base of the National Guard of Ukraine, while his mother worked as a nurse at the military unit's medical station. From childhood, Denys and his parents loved to visit the aviation unit. He particularly enjoyed the Aviation Day of Ukraine holiday, during which aviation shows and exhibitions were held at the military airfield. According to his mother, this played a key role in Denys' choice of future profession. He decided to become an aviator. After school, Denys enrolled at the Kryvyi Rih College of the National Aviation University. In 2018, he graduated with a degree in "Power Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Electromechanics". At that time, many of Denys' friends and acquaintances were already serving in the military, most of them at the Guard Aviation Base. After graduating in 2019, Denys enlisted in the military under a contract. He served in the training and regulation group for recognition equipment. Despite his young age, since August 2021 the young man headed the group. Denys had a beloved girlfriend Kateryna, with whom he wanted to get married. They got married on April 9, 2022, a week before the tragedy. From February 24, 2022, around-the-clock duty began for the personnel of the aviation base. The duty forces constantly service the aviation equipment of both the National Guard of Ukraine and the army aviation of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which carries out combat missions and arrives at the airfield. On April 15, 2022, around 10:25 pm, the airfield "Oleksandriia" was attacked by the enemy with two Kalibr missiles. As a result of the missile strike, a hangar and a building of the technical and operational unit were destroyed, and other unit facilities were damaged. Six servicemen who were performing their duties as part of the aircraft reception and dispatch group, participating in combat operations and providing protection and defense of the airfield, were killed. Among the killed was the head of the training and regulation group for recognition equipment, Senior Lieutenant Denys Karpenko. For personal courage, selfless actions and heroism displayed in defending the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, loyalty to the military oath, Denys Olehovych Karpenko was posthumously awarded the Order of Courage of the III degree. By order of the Commander of the National Guard of Ukraine, Denys Olehovych Karpenko was permanently enrolled in the personnel list of military unit 2269.