Serhii I. Barsukov (Bars)

Sergiy Ihorovych Barsukov was born on April 12, 1993, in the city of Sverdlovsk (now Dovzhansk) in the Luhansk region and was deeply affected by the events in Donbas in the spring of 2014, which led to strife and war in his homeland. Sergiy began his military career after graduating from the Rovenky Technical Economic College in 2012. In April 2013, he was drafted for compulsory military service in the Luhansk Internal Troops Regiment of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine. When mass unrest began with the active support of the Russian Federation and the so-called DNR/LNR were proclaimed, the young man categorically rejected the ideas of "Russian peace" and left Luhansk with his unit for the city of Slovyansk, where the unit became part of the newly formed National Guard of Ukraine. In August of that year, he decided to become a professional soldier and signed his first contract to serve with the 3rd Operational Brigade named after Colonel Petro Bolbochan of the National Guard, stationed in Kharkiv. During his service, the young man distinguished himself and by February 2015, he was transferred to the special operations reconnaissance company. He held the positions of instructor, senior instructor, chief sergeant of the platoon, chief sergeant of the company, and in the summer of 2018, Sergiy's long-held dream came true when he became an officer — he was appointed platoon commander and received the rank of junior lieutenant. In the fall of 2020, Lieutenant Barsukov became the deputy commander of the company for personnel work, and in September 2021, he took command of the reconnaissance unit, which had become familiar to him. During this time, Sergiy repeatedly participated in the ATO/OOS area and was awarded the Presidential Award of Ukraine "For Participation in the Anti-Terrorist Operation." However, awards for this officer — sincere, balanced, and attentive to his subordinates — never held much significance. He lived for his calling and knew he was doing what he did best — defending his native country. On February 24, 2022, the occupying forces of the Russian Federation crossed the state border and insidiously invaded the territory of Ukraine from the settlements of Kozacha Lopan, Hoptivka, Vovchansk, and Lyptsi in the Kharkiv region, launching missile, bombing, artillery, and air strikes on military and critical infrastructure facilities. The unit of Senior Lieutenant Sergiy Barsukov was put on full combat readiness and began executing combat missions to repel and contain armed aggression. In early March, through the joint efforts of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the National Guard, the enemy was pushed back from Kharkiv. The special operations reconnaissance platoon, led by Sergiy Barsukov, continued to carry out combat missions in the settlements of Cherkaska Lozova, Ruska Lozova, and Pytomnyk in the Kharkiv region. During reconnaissance near the village of Ruska Lozova, a group of scouts uncovered an enemy stronghold, an ammunition depot, and a rear point. Waiting for darkness, Sergiy and his scouts approached the enemy positions almost at point-blank range. The guards then split into two groups, one of which was to engage the enemy and draw attention to itself. The other was to quietly flank the enemy from the rear, neutralize the depots, and subsequently encircle the enemy stronghold and engage in battle. This group was led by Sergiy Barsukov. During the approach to the depots, Sergiy discovered two sentries guarding the respective objects. Understanding that the use of firearms would reveal their location, the officer and his partner neutralized the sentries with cold weapons. The guards then set up an explosive charge and detonated the enemy depots. After completing this task, Sergiy, as planned, flanked the enemy from the rear and, together with his group, entered into fierce combat with the enemy. In that combat engagement, the officer personally destroyed about a squad of enemy troops, and the coordinated and courageous actions of the guards forced the remnants of the enemy to disgracefully flee the battlefield. On June 28, 2022, the special operations reconnaissance platoon conducted counteroffensive actions near the village of Dementiivka. At around 6:00 AM, the enemy, using 6 armored personnel carriers and supported by artillery, made another attempt to storm Ukrainian positions but was halted by the defenders' heavy fire. In that combat engagement, Senior Lieutenant Barsukov again distinguished himself, having already destroyed 2 armored personnel carriers and numerous occupiers by 6:15 AM. After unsuccessful attempts to storm the positions and suffering significant losses, the enemy retreated from Dementiivka, and immediately after their withdrawal, mortar fire began on Ukrainian positions. Hearing the characteristic sound of an incoming enemy shell, Sergiy pushed his platoon commander into the shelter, but he himself could not hide in time. The explosion of the enemy shell claimed the life of the brave man. Senior Lieutenant Sergiy Barsukov died on the battlefield as a true hero. He gave the most valuable thing — his own life, saving his comrades. For conscientious performance of official duties, loyalty to the military oath and the Ukrainian people, personal courage, and remarkable heroic deeds, Senior Lieutenant Sergiy Ihorovych Barsukov was posthumously awarded the title of "Hero of Ukraine" with the Order of the Golden Star.