Serhii O. Yanholenko

Sergiy Oleksandrovych Yanholenko was born on May 4, 1975, in the village of Lypkuvativka, Kharkiv Oblast. From 1994 to 1996, he served in the 23rd Airborne Brigade, military unit A0223, in Kremenchuk, Poltava Oblast. From 1996 to 1998, he served under contract in the 6th Division of the National Guard of Ukraine. From 1999 to 2005, he worked as a security guard and was professionally involved in sports. In 2005, he joined the special purpose police battalion "Berkut," where he served until 2014. At the same time, he obtained higher education at the Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs: in 2016, he received a master's degree in "Law," and in 2017, a specialist diploma in "Psychology." In 2013, Sergiy Yanholenko refused to go on a business trip to Kyiv to disperse the Maidan and stayed in Kharkiv. After the return of Kharkiv's "Berkut" from the Maidan in early 2014, Sergiy Yanholenko, along with his brother, officially spoke out against the commander during the battalion formation and stood with weapons against the crowd of "Berkut" officers. The brothers came to the defense of the Kharkiv Regional State Administration from supporters of the Anti-Maidan and, together with self-defense forces, prevented the formation of the Kharkiv People's Republic in their native Kharkiv. On April 14, 2014, the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, Arsen Avakov, signed an order to create two battalions: "Kharkiv-1" and "Slobozhanshchyna," in connection with the beginning of the Anti-Terrorist Operation in Eastern Ukraine. Sergiy Yanholenko was appointed commander of the patrol police special purpose battalion "Kharkiv-1." After the situation stabilized in Kharkiv in June 2014, the "Kharkiv-1" and "Slobozhanshchyna" battalions were dispatched to the city of Kupiansk. In August 2014, during the active phase of fighting for the city of Ilovaisk, the battalions were sent to Donetsk Oblast. From August 26 to 28, 2014, "Kharkiv-1" and "Slobozhanshchyna" were tasked with taking control of the city of Volnovakha and establishing a foothold there. The battalions, totaling 50 personnel, occupied the city and organized defense. Volnovakha remained under Ukrainian control, along with the surrounding territories. For their service in the battalion in 2014-2015, Sergiy and Andriy Yanholenko were awarded commemorative weapons and state honors from the President — medals "For Military Service to Ukraine." From 2018 to 2022, Sergiy Yanholenko worked in the Main Directorate of the National Police of Ukraine in Donetsk Oblast, at the Druzhkivka police department. From the first day of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation into our territory, Sergiy Yanholenko, along with his brother Andriy, organized the volunteer battalion "Slobozhanshchyna," subordinate to the governor of Kharkiv Oblast and the leadership of the SBU in Kharkiv Oblast. The battalion's fighters went on missions and participated in special operations together with the 92nd Brigade. Sergiy Yanholenko was killed on March 25, 2022, during the clearing of the village of Mala Rohan in Kharkiv Oblast.