Serhii L. Kotenko (Ratybor)

Colonel Serhiy Kotenko (call sign Ratihor) was killed in action on March 9, 2022, on the outskirts of the city of Zaporizhzhia. His life was cut short by shrapnel from a shell that exploded near him on his post. The soldier was 54 years old. Serhiy was born in the city of Haisyn in Vinnytsia region. He graduated from the Kamianets-Podilskyi Higher Military Engineering Command School. He served in engineering positions in Yakutia. In 1992, he returned to Haisyn. He was a platoon commander and headed a training course. In total, he served in the army for 22 years. In 2014-2015, he headed the Haisyn District State Administration. Later, he returned to military service. He was a participant in the ATO/OOS. Since the first day of the full-scale Russian invasion, he has been involved in combat operations. He was the commander of the 9th Separate Motorized Infantry Battalion "Vinnytski Sich" as part of the 59th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade named after Yakov Handzyuk. Two days before his death, Serhiy learned about the death of his brother Oleksandr. The soldier took the loss hard but continued to destroy the occupiers. Thanks to his actions and determination, the 9th Battalion destroyed dozens of units of military equipment, a significant amount of weapons and Russian manpower, and also stopped the advance of the occupiers in their direction. "He was a very good commander. A man of great character. This is a heavy loss for us," noted the 59th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade. Posthumously, Colonel Serhiy Kotenko was awarded the title "Hero of Ukraine". The hero left behind his wife and son, who also serves in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. At his father's funeral, he swore to defend Ukraine and raise his grandson Ratihor as a true patriot, just like his grandfather was. Serhiy was buried in Haisyn next to his brother Oleksandr. In Vinnytsia, a street was renamed in honor of the Kotenko brothers.