Serhii A. Kharchenko

Chief Sergeant Serhii Kharchenko was killed in action near the town of Popasna in Luhansk region on March 21, 2022. The warrior was 29 years old. Serhii was born in the village of Svesa, Sumy region. He stu at the local school. In 2014, he graduated from the Kyiv Institute of Business and Technology. Since 2019, he had been serving in the ranks of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. As part of the 3rd (Luhansk) Border Guard Detachment named after Hero of Ukraine Colonel Yevhenii Pikus, he took part in combat operations in the area of the Joint Forces Operation in Donbas. He lived with his wife and son in Luhansk region. He loved to learn something new and always tried to improve the lives of those around him. During the full-scale invasion, Serhii continued to defend Luhansk region from Russian invaders. Together with his brothers-in-arms, he defended the town of Stanytsia Luhanska. Then, with the 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, he held positions near the town of Popasna, where he fought his last battle. "He was standing on the position himself and shooting 'Wagnerites'. The enemies were standing five meters away from him. On the morning of March 21, they destroyed their tank. In the evening, we heard silence on the position where Serhii was. We ran there, but a sniper's bullet took his life," his brothers-in-arms said. "Serhii was a responsible and intelligent person, always extending a helping hand. There were always many phone calls asking for help, as people knew that he would help! The best son, grandson, the most beloved husband and father, who had countless plans and wanted to live with his family, take care of his loved ones. But the damned war took him away from us. Serhii was incredibly kind, caring, attentive, reliable. The best! It will never be possible to believe, a wound that will bleed for a lifetime. It was love at first sight and for a lifetime. Just before the war, my husband and I got married. Our son still does not know about his father's death. He just does not understand and does not believe. He is still small... Our father is a Hero! He performed a feat. Now our feat is simply to breathe. Without him, it is unbearably difficult and painful," his wife, Alina, wrote. The hero was buried in his hometown. Serhii is survived by his mother, brother, wife, son, grandfather, and grandmother. Posthumously, Serhii Kharchenko was awarded the rank of chief sergeant and the Order "For Courage" III degree.