Illia P. Dotsenko (Hrek)

Reconnaissance officer Illia Dotsenko (call sign Greek) was killed on June 6, 2023, during a hostile air strike in the area of the village of Omelnik, Zaporizhia region. The defender was forever 28 years old. Illia was born in Svatove, Luhansk region. He graduated from Luhansk National Agrarian University with a degree in "Accounting and Taxation". He worked in the agricultural sector. In his free time, he loved to travel. When the full-scale Russian invasion began, Illia, along with his family, moved to the Khmilnytskyi region. And there he went to the military registration and enlistment office to join the ranks of the defenders. He fought as part of the 132nd separate reconnaissance battalion of the airborne assault troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He was a reconnaissance grenadier. During the war, he got married. "Many of his exploits, about which civilians will probably never know, will remain in the memory of his comrades-in-arms who at that moment were holding weapons next to him. A reconnaissance officer with a capital letter. A person who is probably no more. A warrior who will never die. A driver who drove where even crawling was almost impossible. When the group was under heavy enemy fire and artillery, the only one who agreed to take them out was Greek. Illia went on missions one after another with a sly smile and some sarcastic joke. Perhaps he had a certain share of fear, but his calm, sense of humor and driving skills gave confidence that there would be no problems on the way. He was a person who shared the last cigarette and the invincible confidence that everything would be fine. For his 28 years, he knew too much about how the world is arranged, and despite all the negative aspects of society, he fought for its freedom. He saw a goal before him and walked towards it with his head held high. Comrade Greek, a worthy son of Luhansk region, rest in peace, you will forever remain in our ranks," wrote his fallen comrade Mykhailo. The warrior was buried in the Alley of Glory of the Rakove microdistrict cemetery in Khmilnytskyi. Illia is survived by his parents, brother, wife, friends and comrades-in-arms.