Yevhenii M. Pikus

Born on September 14, 1979, in the city of Vinnytsia. Graduated from secondary school No. 30 (now - secondary school-gymnasium No. 30 named after Taras Shevchenko) in Vinnytsia.$Since the late 1990s, served in the Border Guard Forces of Ukraine. Graduated from the National Academy of the Border Guard Forces of Ukraine named after Bohdan Khmelnytsky (now - National Academy of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine named after Bohdan Khmelnytsky, in the city of Khmelnytsky). Served in various positions in the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.$Since July 11, 2014, Lieutenant Colonel Pikus commanded units of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine in the area of the checkpoint "Krasna Talivka" on the border with the Russian Federation, located near the village of Krasna Talivka in the Stanytsia Luhanska district of Luhansk region.$On July 28, 2014, in the area of the village of Talove in the Stanytsia Luhanska district of Luhansk region, five kilometers from the state border line, an explosion occurred near a service vehicle during the operation of a search response group. A radio-controlled explosive device detonated. Several servicemen, including the chief of staff of the regional administration, Colonel Viktor Babyuk, and the head of the Luhansk border detachment, Colonel Serhiy Deyneko, were seriously injured. Immediately after that, mortar fire began. Lieutenant Colonel Yevhen Pikus, risking his own life, brought another vehicle, loaded the wounded into it, got behind the wheel, and rushed to the hospital. Despite the mines landing almost nearby and the danger of being fired upon from our checkpoints (there was no time to stop and report the password), he managed to save the lives of his comrades.$On August 25, 2014, in the area of the village of Talove in the Stanytsia Luhanska district of Luhansk region, units of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine engaged in battle with a sabotage and reconnaissance group that crossed the state border of Ukraine from the territory of the Russian Federation in the area of responsibility of the border service department "Krasna Talivka" in Luhansk region. During the battle, which lasted two and a half hours, the sabotage and reconnaissance group received fire support in the form of mortars, two armored personnel carriers, two infantry fighting vehicles, and two Mi-24 combat helicopters of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, which fired at the positions of the Ukrainian border guards from the territory of the Russian Federation. Despite the numerical and fire superiority of the enemy, the border guards managed to stop the sabotage and reconnaissance group, but unfortunately at a great cost. During the battle, three border guards were wounded, four were killed, one of whom was Lieutenant Colonel Pikus. A sniper's bullet hit him in the back of the head under the helmet, and two bullets pierced his bulletproof vest.$On August 27, 2014, he was buried in the Alley of Glory at the Central Cemetery of Vinnytsia.