Ihor S. Verhulenko

Lieutenant Ihor Verhulenko was killed on February 24, 2022, at a military unit in the Kharkiv region. The defender was 23 years old. Ihor was born in the village of Bilokurakine, Luhansk region. In the 11th grade, he wanted to enter the historical faculty, but then categorically stated that he would become a military man. Since then, he saw himself nowhere else. In 2021, he graduated from the faculty of anti-aircraft missile forces of the Kharkiv National University of the Air Force named after Ivan Kozhedub. He was interested in history and loved football. After graduation, Ihor was assigned to serve in the 302nd Anti-Aircraft Missile Kharkiv Regiment of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He held the position of head of the maintenance team of receiving and transmitting radio equipment of the radio technology battery. Ihor was killed on the first day of the full-scale invasion of Russian troops. The officer was on the territory of the military unit when the enemy shelling began. "He was a fan of his work and lived it. He always took care of everyone more than himself. On any words about my concern for him, he replied that he was 'invincible' and nothing would happen to him. He dreamed that we would have a daughter... Ihor was such a loving son and husband that his love could have embraced the whole world," said his wife Alena. The defender was buried in his native town in Luhansk region. At home, Ihor was awaited by his wife and mother. Lieutenant Verhulenko was posthumously awarded the Order "For Courage" of the 3rd degree.