Vitalii O. Stepanenko

Soldier Vitaliy Stepanenko was killed in action on March 14, 2022, near the village of Ruska Lozova in the Kharkiv region. The fighter took the blow of an enemy tank, covering his comrades. He was 43 years old. Vitaliy was born in Dergachi, Kharkiv region. He graduated from the Kharkiv State Automobile and Road Technical College. In his free time, he never sat idle, always doing something. He loved cars - this hobby was passed down from his father. He learned to drive early. In his youth, he worked as a driver, then became a production operator at the UKpostach enterprise. During the full-scale Russian invasion, the man joined the ranks of the 92nd Separate Mechanized Brigade named after Koshovyi Otaman Ivan Sirko. Together with his comrades, he defended his native Kharkiv region. "He was a true patriot of Ukraine. From the first days of the full-scale invasion, he went to the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. 'I can't just sit still when they're bombing my country,' he said to me, gathered his things and left. He loved his wife very much and was a caring father. Their family was an example of a truly strong family. Vitaliy was a joyful, sincere, kind and decent person, a loyal friend, a responsible and hardworking worker. He is a true Hero and will always be in our hearts. We miss him a lot," said the sister of the deceased, Alina. The hero was buried in his hometown. Vitaliy is survived by his sister, son, and wife. Posthumously, soldier Vitaliy Stepanenko was awarded the Order "For Courage" III degree.