Kostiantyn A. Dotsenko

Master Chief Petty Officer Kostiantyn Dotsenko (call sign Cat) was killed on April 6, 2022 in Mariupol, Donetsk region. At the cost of his own life, he enabled his comrades-in-arms to withdraw to more advantageous positions. The hero was forever 49 years old. Kostiantyn was born in Verkhivtseve, Dnipropetrovsk region. He graduated from the Kryvyi Rih Culinary Technical School, the Odesa Vocational Lyceum of Maritime Transport, and petty officer courses. He served under contract, was a border guard in Kerch, and after the annexation of Crimea - in Mariupol. He was the commander of a small boat. He participated in the Anti-Terrorist Operation. Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, he has been defending Mariupol. "Kostia was fair, honest, and responsible. He respected his subordinates, for whom he was always an example of devotion to his native country. He was fascinated by the heroism and strength of spirit of his young comrades-in-arms, and he cared about them. Every time he prepared himself: 'To get out of the battle alive and save the lives of my guys.' We last saw each other on March 29 in the port. Planes were circling over the city. Kostia, as always, was optimistic. On April 6, he and his comrades-in-arms repelled and held back the enemy's tank attack. Kostia ordered everyone to go down to the basement and took the entire blow himself. His comrades-in-arms say: 'Thanks to Kostia, we survived the encirclement without a "back", without communication. We had nothing but machine guns and a few grenades. Five out of ten wounded. All survived thanks to his courage and mind,' said his wife Tetiana Dotsenko. "Kostia was a cheerful person, he charged everyone around him with his energy. He was a loving father and husband. He planned to continue his studies. He dreamed of living in an independent Ukraine so that our children could live well." At home, the defender was awaited by his wife and two sons. Kostiantyn Dotsenko was posthumously promoted to the next military rank of "Senior Master Chief Petty Officer" and awarded the Order of Courage of the III degree.