Serhii V. Demchenko

Sergiy Viktorovych Demchenko was born on November 22, 1986, in the village of Sofiivka, Dnipropetrovsk region. In 2008, he graduated from the Donetsk Law Institute of Luhansk State University of Internal Affairs with a degree in "Law Enforcement Activities" and was appointed as an inspector of the road patrol service of the Sofiivka platoon. In 2011, he took the position of duty officer at the Dovhyntsivskyi District Police Department, where he worked for 4 years. In 2015, Sergiy Demchenko headed the staff of the Sofiivka District Police Department, and from December 2016, he served in the response sector of Patrol Police No. 1 of the Sofiivka Police Department of the Zhovtovodskyi Police Department of the Main Department of the National Police in Dnipropetrovsk region. Since February 22, 2021, Police Captain Sergiy Demchenko held the position of head of the duty unit of Police Station No. 9 of Kryvyi Rih District Police Department. His wife, Nataliya Demchenko, said: "We met in Sofiivka, fell in love, and got married. After four years of a happy marriage, in 2018, our son Yegor was born. We were a happy family... Sergiy was a kind and calm husband, always soothing us, finding the right words. He devoted himself entirely to the family; we always spent our free time together. On weekends, he would take our son for rides in toy cars, play football, and in winter they would go sledding. Yegor always eagerly awaited his father from work; they played and walked together. Our son still cannot comprehend that his father has died. He still believes that the war will end and dad will come home. He is so proud that his father is a police officer... Sergiy loved family celebrations, family traditions, and loved gathering together. For him, family was sacred. He had many friends who loved and respected him. He was sincere and kind to other people, never did anything bad to those around him. People listened to him and respected him. Sergiy consciously chose this profession, he decided to become a law enforcement officer, even though there were no police officers in his family or among friends. He started his service as a road patrol inspector, worked in the duty unit, and when the recruitment of community police officers began in Dnipropetrovsk region, he became fascinated with this idea. He felt that his knowledge, his personal qualities, and his professional skills would allow him to perform this job with dignity. He was valued at work and promoted. When he became a police officer in our community, all residents knew that they could always turn to Sergiy Demchenko with any problem, and he would never refuse anyone. He was very sincere and kind both in life and in service. When he died, unfamiliar people approached me and expressed their condolences." His mother, Larysa, said: "When Sergiy was born in November 1986, a harsh winter was already upon us, and heavy snow was falling. It seemed that even then the weather foretold the arrival of a very bright and sincere person. In childhood, he was a very clever and curious boy. He loved his younger sister Lyudmila and always took care of her. From childhood, he was demanding of himself, responsible, goal-oriented, and hardworking. When he grew up, it helped him a lot in life and at work. After finishing school, Sergiy entered the Donetsk Law Institute. When difficulties arose and some of his classmates began to complain, Sergiy calmed them down and encouraged them. He was very motivated to gain this education, to fulfill his dream. He was an active cadet at the institute, cheerful, sociable, and sincere, with many friends. I remember how a large truck with ammonia caught fire on the Kryvyi Rih highway. He immediately made a decision: he sat next to the driver, and they drove the truck out of the village. Strangers told me about this heroic act of my son. Sergiy himself never mentioned it. He was that modest and feared to upset me. Among others, he always stood out with his smile, kindness, fairness, courage, and patience. It is very painful to bury your son, to realize that the dearest person in the world has died." His sister Lyudmyla: "Sergiy was the best brother, son, husband, father; he was the brightest person in the world. Just, kind, balanced, calm—this is how I and the people who surrounded him will remember him. He always found the right words, could give sound advice, support a person. It is very hard to lose a loved one who died so unexpectedly. This is a very great loss and a strong pain for all of us." A colleague of the deceased, Viktoriia: "When I transferred to the position of community officer, it was difficult at first, and Sergiy became a role model for me. He was a very compassionate person whom you could always turn to for help. He patiently explained and suggested how to do things correctly. It is very sad that the police lost such a dedicated employee, and our team lost a sincere and kind colleague. When he died, it was hard for me to accept this fact; in difficult work moments, I felt that soon Sergiy would come and help me." Colleague Viktor: "Sergiy and I studied together in school, then at the institute, and later we started working together. Sergiy Demchenko was a good person, well-versed in his field, and dedicated to it. He was respected among colleagues and management, always ready to lend a helping hand. I still can't believe that when you come to work, he is not at his workplace... We will always remember him..." Sergiy Demchenko died on February 27, 2022, while performing his official duties. For personal courage and selfless actions demonstrated in defense of the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and loyalty to the military oath, Police Captain Sergiy Viktorovych Demchenko was posthumously awarded the Order of "For Courage" III class.