Ruslan O. Storcheus

Ruslan Oleksandrovich Storchus was born on January 11, 1979, in the city of Kherson to a family of workers. From 1986 to 1995, he studied at Kherson Secondary School No. 30, and from 1995 to 1996, he attended the academic lyceum at Kherson State Pedagogical Institute. From 1996 to 2001, Ruslan Storchus studied at KhDPI majoring in "Geography and Biology," obtaining the qualification of a teacher of geography, biology, and fundamentals of economics. He actively participated in the university's public life. From 2001 to 2008, he worked at the joint-stock company "Kherson Electromechanical Plant," holding positions as a legal advisor to the plant management (2001–2003), head of the legal department (2003–2006), and head of the legal bureau (2006–2008). In 2009, Ruslan graduated with honors from the Kherson Law Institute of the Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs, receiving a full higher education in "Law" and obtaining the qualification of a legal specialist. From 2008 to 2009, Ruslan worked at LLC "Khersonavtotrans," holding positions as head of the legal department, head of the economic security service, control, and legal support. From 2009 to 2011, he was a legal advisor in the legal support group for claims and lawsuits at the Kherson branch of JSC "Generali Garant," and from 2011 to 2014, he served as a legal advisor in the legal support group for claims and lawsuits at the Kherson branch of the private JSC "Ukrainian Insurance Company 'Garant-Auto'." Ruslan was an active participant in the Orange Revolution and the Revolution of Dignity, later becoming involved in the People's Self-Defense of Kherson. After the annexation of Crimea, he was one of the first to volunteer for the patrol police battalion "Kherson" of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine in the Kherson region, becoming its commander with the rank of police sergeant in May 2014. He was later awarded the special rank of police lieutenant. On August 25, 2014, in the area of the city of Ilovaisk in the Donetsk region, the vehicle in which Ruslan was traveling with one of his subordinates, police private Oleg Pyshkov, was ambushed and shot at with a grenade launcher. Both law enforcement officers died on the spot. On February 16, 2015, a memorial plaque was ceremoniously unveiled and consecrated at the building of Kherson State University in honor of the university graduate, police lieutenant Ruslan Storchus (the funds for its production were collected by the hero's classmates). An exhibition has been created in the KhDU museum, showcasing personal belongings of Ruslan provided by his relatives. Among them are diplomas and other documents, numerous photographs, children's drawings, a hand-made star atlas, student notes, military uniform and helmet, the last pack of cigarettes that the commander never had the chance to finish, as well as his watch, which was a gift from his grandfather—a veteran of the Great Patriotic War.