Valerii S. Yelefteriadi (Hrek)

Valeriy Stepanovych was born on September 23, 1969, in the village of Sukhanove, Berislav district, Kherson region. In November 1987, he was drafted for compulsory military service in the Armed Forces of the USSR. He underwent training in a training unit, receiving the military rank of junior sergeant, and was sent for further military service to the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan, serving in one of the military units of the 40th army from June 1988 to March 1989. From the assessment: "He is well prepared in his profession, constantly working to improve his level of professional training. The accumulated experience of practical work allows him to perform his official duties qualitatively and make reasoned decisions during combat missions. He is a conscientious, disciplined, literate, and hardworking serviceman." He was awarded the medals "For Distinction in Military Service" II degree and "To the Internationalist Warrior from the Grateful Afghan People," as well as many certificates and letters of thanks. Subsequently, Valeriy Stepanovych lived in Russia, served in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, participated in two Chechen wars, later resigned, and returned to his native village in Kherson region. He was a kind, sensitive, and modest person, a reliable comrade, a true patriot of his homeland, and proved this when hostilities began in Donbas. At that time, Valeriy Stepanovych renounced his citizenship of the Russian Federation, accepted Ukrainian citizenship, and on August 21, 2014, was called up for military service by mobilization (as a volunteer). According to commanders and comrades, the chief sergeant of the 2nd platoon of the 1st company of the 40th separate motorized infantry battalion of the 17th separate tank brigade, sergeant Yeletferiadi, proved himself to be a brave and professional warrior; he repeatedly risked his life, covering his comrades with fire and saving the lives of his brothers-in-arms. The 45-year-old defender of the homeland died on February 13, 2015, receiving a fatal wound in battle near Debaltseve… Viktor Kovalenko: "Exactly a year ago on this day, February 13, while defending the repeater in Debaltseve, our Greek, Valera Yeletferiadi, was killed by a sniper's bullet (and then by three more shots to the heart from a Russian sabotage group that deliberately killed 'Afghans'). I knew him well; we spent more than one day together in the barracks. He was Greek by nationality, of which he was proud, a career military man, an 'Afghan,' who chose Ukraine as his homeland after the collapse of the Soviet Union. He once said: 'Vitya, these mobilized around are just cannon fodder. I want to teach them to defend themselves and fight. I will take them to the training ground every day and teach them!' He really taught, and thanks to him, the 40th battalion 'Kryvbas' had not very many losses in Debaltseve. He was a true sergeant whom one could rely on. I love him as a person and remember him with gratitude."