Dmytro O. Dereka

Senior Soldier Dmytro Dereka (call sign Dexter) was killed in battle on July 2, 2023 near the village of Ivanivske in the Donetsk region. The hero remained forever 36 years old. Dmytro was born and lived in Kharkiv. After school, he enrolled at the National Technical University "Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute", but did not complete his studies and went to work. He worked in various fields: he was both a salesman and a taxi driver. And from 2021 he was already earning in Poland. He devoted his free time to sports and family. When the full-scale war began, the man was abroad. Later, he decided to return home. He was engaged in volunteer activities, helped women, children and the elderly to leave. Eventually, he decided to voluntarily go to defend his country. In August 2022, he was accepted into the 3rd Special Operations Regiment. Later he was transferred to the 121st separate brigade of the territorial defense of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He held the position of operator of the reconnaissance platoon of the reconnaissance company of the 129th battalion. "Dmytro was a very cheerful and cheerful person, he always helped everyone, had many friends. He was a beloved husband, loving son, wonderful father, faithful friend and comrade. He was an ordinary person who had nothing to do with military affairs. His military path began on August 2, 2022, when he took the oath. Then he spent almost a month in training in the UK. For half a year he bravely defended the country in the ranks of the Special Operations Forces. Later he was transferred to the Kyiv Territorial Defense and continued to serve in the Donetsk region. He very rarely came into contact. On July 1, 2023, he wrote me the last message: "My love, I'm alive, don't worry, the connection is very bad, so I'm asking my comrade to distribute the internet. I love you, kiss the little ones." And the next day he was killed..." - his wife said. Dmytro was buried in his native Kharkiv. The defender left behind his parents Oleh and Tetiana, his wife Olha, and daughters Anastasia and Anna. The military man was posthumously awarded the Order of Courage of the III degree.