Denys S. Rudenko (Rudik)

29-year-old Sergeant Denys Rudenko (call sign Rudik) was killed on February 14, 2023 near Bakhmut in the Donetsk region. When the occupiers went on the offensive, a group of Ukrainian defenders, including Denys, went to help their comrades. Their "Hummer" was hit by an enemy kamikaze drone "Lancet". Denys and the group commander were killed. Denys was from the city of Pavlohrad in the Dnipropetrovsk region. He studied at the local school No. 1. Later, he graduated from a technical school. He loved sports and practiced taekwondo. In 2013, he served in the military. Then for 2 years he was an instructor at the "Desna" training center. Since 2015, he had been working at a mine in his hometown. During the full-scale Russian invasion, Denys went to the military enlistment office. He fought against the occupiers in the ranks of the 25th separate motorized infantry battalion "Kyivan Rus" of the 54th Separate Motorized Brigade. He participated in the defense of the Donetsk region. He was wounded. After several operations, he returned to the front line with his comrades. He constantly said: "If we all sit in the rear, we will never win the war." "Our sunshine! I will never believe that you are gone. Our dear son, brother, beloved husband and loving father. You was killed in this damned war, defending your native Ukraine..." - wrote the mother of the fallen Tetiana. "The Pavlohrad City Council and its Executive Committee express their deepest condolences to the family and friends of the fallen defender, sharing the heavy pain of the loss. Profound bow to the warrior-defenders. Eternal memory and glory to the Heroes," the Pavlohrad community page noted. The warrior was buried in his hometown. Denys is survived by his parents, brother, wife and son.