Serhii P. Zelinskyi (Marafon)

Sergeant Serhii Zelinskyi (call sign Marathon) was killed on June 4, 2023, in a firefight with the occupiers in the Kharkiv region. In July, he would have turned 41 years old. Serhii was born in the village of Kizomys, Kherson region. After graduating from school, he studied at the Kherson State Agrarian and Economic University, majoring in "Management". He lived both in Kherson and in Kizomys, where he was born - there were practically no weekends when he did not visit his native village, and he often went there even during the week. He was passionate about basketball and played for the university team. He also had two other passions - hunting and marathon running. Hunting was a passion from childhood, which his father instilled in him. Serhii was the head of the Kizomys hunting community. Since 2014, Serhii has been actively involved in volunteer activities and headed the union of ATO (Anti-Terrorist Operation) warriors of the Bilozerska community in the Kherson region. Before the full-scale war, he was a private entrepreneur and co-founder of the well-known Kherson veteran's business - the "Salt and Pepper" pizzeria. After February 24, 2022, the man joined the resistance movement of special operations forces in the occupied Kherson region. Thanks to the coordinated actions of the defenders, a large amount of equipment and manpower was eliminated in the village of Chornobaivka and other areas. In the summer of 2022, Serhii joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He served in the 8th separate special operations regiment of the Special Operations Forces. He was the deputy commander of the "Greka" group. He participated in reconnaissance operations, carried out combat missions in the most responsible and dangerous areas of the front in Donetsk, Kharkiv regions, and took part in the defense of Bakhmut. "Serhii had many plans for the future, and when asked how he was doing, the answer was always: 'Everything is fine!'. Serhii's life position was: 'Be positive, help others, do everything in your power to achieve your goal'. He was a sun-like person, incredibly positive, wise and energetic, generous, caring, with a sensitive soul and a big and brave heart. A loving husband, father, son, brother, true friend, reliable comrade. Everyone who knew him felt his light: 'When I remember you, friend, only good and fun stories come to mind', 'I will always remember you smiling, cheerful, full of life', 'He was a hero in both civilian and military life', 'He was constantly helping someone, was 'on the phone' and ready to go to the other end of the country at the first call to lend a shoulder', - his sister Aliona said. According to Serhii's will, he was cremated. He wanted his ashes to be scattered on the territory of the native Kherson floodplains. He told his relatives: 'This way I will be with you everywhere'. The hero left behind his mother, sister, wife, son and daughter. Posthumously, Serhii Zelinskyi was awarded the Order of Courage of the III degree.