Serhii S. Verpeka

On May 8, 2022, a 21-year-old fighter Serhiy Verpeka took his last battle. At the cost of his own life, he won time for other units that were consolidating their positions near the city of Vuhledar in Donetsk Oblast. Serhiy was born in the city of Sloviansk in Donetsk Oblast. He was left an orphan early. He was raised by his uncle and older sister Alina, who was like a mother to Serhiy. In 2021, the boy joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine. With the start of the full-scale war, he passed through the hottest points: Mariupol, Avdiivka, where he fought his way out of encirclement and spent 9 days in the forests, alone with the enemy. For several days, a woman hid Serhiy in one of the occupied villages, she helped him reach his positions. While being in the rear of the enemy, he exposed the main camouflaged positions of the occupiers, which allowed other units not to fall into an ambush and save the lives of many guys. It was for this that the serviceman was awarded the Order of Courage III degree. Soon Serhiy returned to the front. This time already for the last time. The hero was buried in his native Sloviansk. The deceased military man left behind an uncle, aunt, sister and two brothers.