Pavlo H. Burenok (Buria)

32-year-old Lieutenant Pavlo Burenok (call sign Burya) was killed on August 3, 2023, in the intensive care unit of the Zaporizhia hospital. A day earlier, while carrying out a combat mission near the village of Robotyne in the Zaporizhia region, he sustained severe injuries as a result of a direct hit by an enemy artillery shell on the bunker where he was located. Six of his comrades were killed instantly. Pavlo suffered numerous shrapnel wounds on the right side of his body and head, and lost his arm below the elbow. He was evacuated to the hospital, but unfortunately, his injuries were incompatible with life. Pavlo was from Chernihiv. In 2008, he graduated from Chernihiv Collegium No. 11. He then studied at the Faculty of Law of the Chernihiv Institute of Economics and Management, where he obtained a bachelor's degree. He completed the military department and received the rank of junior lieutenant in the reserve. He worked in the Chernihiv patrol police for 6 years and was a participant in the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) / Joint Forces Operation (JFO). He was a swimmer with a 1st class rank and also enjoyed boxing and going to the gym. During the full-scale invasion, Pavlo was in the police force and defended his hometown, collaborating with military units. Later, he resigned as a senior police lieutenant and joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He joined the 116th Separate Brigade of the Territorial Defense, where he held the position of reconnaissance platoon commander. "He was a very polite, decent and kind person, always ready to help everyone, no matter what. He loved life and his daughter very much, and had many plans for the future. He was always for justice. He protected his mother, never telling her about his problems so that she wouldn't worry. When he was at the front, he worried about the guys who were under his command. Before the last assault, he had serious back problems, with two herniated discs that had worsened, and it was difficult for Pavlo to walk. Then he should have remained in the rear and treated his back, but he told me: 'How can I stay behind while my guys go? They will die without me. Since we are already here, we need to fulfill our mission.' There, in the Robotyne area, he lost his guys, and he himself was killed in the hospital. When his comrades were providing Pavlo with medical assistance in the bunker, he said with a smile that everything would be fine and that the war was over for him. These were his last words," said the deceased's older brother, Maksym. "My son was a brave and decent person, a caring son, the best dad, a reliable comrade and brother. He loved life very much, had many plans and dreams. He wanted to continue serving in intelligence, working for the benefit of our country. Above all, he loved his daughter and gave his life so that she could live in a peaceful country!" wrote his mother, Lyudmyla. The warrior was buried in the "Yatsevo" cemetery in his hometown. At home, Pavlo was awaited by his wife, daughter, loving family and friends.