Oleksandr M. Lavrenko

Born on March 9, 1983, in the city of Lozova, Kharkiv region. In 2000, he graduated from general education school No. 7 in Lozova. Since 2000, he served in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In 2005, he graduated from the Kharkiv Guards Order of the Red Banner Tank Troops Institute named after the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, National Technical University "Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute." Since 2005, he served in the 93rd Separate Guards Mechanized Brigade of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (military unit A1302, the urban-type settlement of Cherkaskoye, Novomoskovsk district, Dnipropetrovsk region). Since July 8, 2014, he participated in the anti-terrorist operation in eastern Ukraine. On July 21, 2014, the crew of the T-64 tank, commanded by Captain Lavrenko, as part of a tank company with the support of a mechanized platoon, carried out a combat mission to capture and destroy a terrorist stronghold in the area of the village of Pisky, Yasynuvata district, Donetsk region. During the mission, Captain Lavrenko's tank moved at the head of the column and was the first to reach the terrorists' checkpoint, where there were two tanks and machine gun crews, followed by a mortar battery and sniper positions of the militants. A battle ensued. The terrorists opened heavy fire from tanks and mortars. During the fight, Captain Lavrenko's tank destroyed one enemy tank and damaged another. It also eliminated machine gun crews and two buses of terrorists that had arrived for reinforcements from the city of Donetsk. During the mortar shelling that began at the start of the battle, the crew of the infantry fighting vehicle BMP-2, which was moving in the column behind the tank, began evacuating wounded servicemen. After capturing the enemy checkpoint, the crew of the T-64 tank covered the actions of the mechanized unit and the evacuation group with fire from the tank gun and machine gun. After using all ammunition, Captain Lavrenko's tank did not withdraw from the battle, was the first to advance to the likely line of counterattack, broke into the terrorists' positions, destroying two mortar crews, but significantly distanced itself from the main forces of the tank company. Avoiding enemy fire, the tank hit a powerful explosive device, resulting in the deaths of crew members Junior Sergeant Oleksandr Vokhromeyev and Soldier Andriy Kulyahin. Severely wounded, Captain Oleksandr Lavrenko did not surrender to the enemy and prevented the capture of the tank by blowing himself up in the combat vehicle. Thanks to the heroic, decisive, and brave actions of the tank crew led by Captain Oleksandr Lavrenko, it was possible to prevent a counterattack by the elite terrorist unit "Kalmius," which allowed the units of the battalion tactical group of the 93rd Separate Mechanized Brigade to secure themselves and complete the combat mission. On July 26, 2014, he was buried in the central alley of the city cemetery in Lozova. On October 13, 2015, a memorial plaque was opened in Lozova on the facade of general education school No. 7 (microdistrict 3, 29), where Oleksandr Lavrenko studied. By the decree of the President of Ukraine No. 388/2016 dated September 9, 2016, for exceptional courage, heroism, and self-sacrifice demonstrated in the defense of the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and loyalty to the military oath, Captain Oleksandr Mykolayovych Lavrenko was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine with the Order of the Golden Star.