Petro V. Bezpalko

A terrible whim of fate: the tragedy that claimed the lives of six police officers from Prykarpattia occurred on the International Day of UN Peacekeepers, when the whole world honored and celebrated the people who safeguarded peace in various corners of the planet. One of the deceased was Ukrainian peacekeeper, Senior Lieutenant of Police Petro Bezpalko…₴Petro excelled in school, having aspired to uphold justice from a young age. He took 1st place in ballroom dancing competitions, winning a trip to the international children's center "Artek" as a prize. From November 25, 1998, to April 7, 2000, he served in the Armed Forces in the positions of shooter and squad commander. After being discharged, he worked for five months at a security company.₴Choosing a career in law enforcement, he served in the internal affairs bodies from June 26, 2001: he successfully completed training at the Chernivtsi School of Professional Training for Police Officers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine in Chernivtsi Oblast, and later underwent a rigorous selection process, from December 2001 he held the position of police officer in the separate rapid response police unit "Berkut" of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast.₴From April 2004 to May 2005, he served as a patrol officer in the Special Peacekeeping Unit of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine for the international police forces of the UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), where he sustained a serious injury while performing his duties, underwent long-term treatment, but eventually returned to his native special unit. He was awarded the UN medal "In the Service of Peace."₴In 2011, he graduated from the National Academy of Internal Affairs, and from December 2010 he held the position of inspector in the combat and special training group, and from May 2012 — deputy platoon commander of the special police unit "Berkut" of the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast (since March 2014 — special police unit of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine in Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast).₴He repeatedly participated in ensuring public order and safety in Ivano-Frankivsk city, in the settlements of the region, and in operations to apprehend armed criminals. He had a high authority among the personnel of the unit. His colleagues noted Petro's inherent resilience, his desire to always be at the forefront. Petro tenderly cared for his three children, often spending his free time with his family in nature, and enjoyed fishing and hunting.₴During the events of the Revolution of Dignity in the winter of 2013-2014, he carried out tasks to maintain public order on the streets of the capital. He participated in the anti-terrorist operation in Eastern Ukraine for over a month.₴Hanna Mykolaivna Bezpalko, Petro's mother: "Work was always his top priority; he was a man of duty. No one ever spoke a bad word about my son. Now I pray for this grief in Ukraine to end, so there are no more orphans…".₴Natalia Bezpalko, Petro's wife: "He was a strong, confident man capable of solving all problems and a wonderful dad. It is hard to learn to live alone. I want to believe that they all did not die in vain, that there will be changes in the country."