Serhii Bozhko (Ukrainian: Сергій Віталійович Божко; August 16, 1997, Hnidyntsi, Chernihiv Oblast — May 22, 2022, near the village of Luhanske, Bakhmut Raion, Donetsk Oblast) was a senior soldier of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, a participant in the Russian-Ukrainian war who died during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Hero of Ukraine with the Order of the Golden Star (2023, posthumously).

Serhii Bozhko
Native name
Сергій Віталійович Божко
Nickname(s)August
Born(1997-08-16)16 August 1997
Hnidyntsi, Chernihiv Oblast, Ukraine
Died22 May 2022(2022-05-22) (aged 24)
near the village of Luhanske, Bakhmut Raion, Donetsk Oblast
Allegiance Ukraine
Service / branch Ukrainian Ground Forces
RankSenior soldier
Unit30th Mechanized Brigade
Battles / wars
AwardsHero of Ukraine Order of the Gold Star (posthumously)

Biography

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Serhii Bozhko was born on 16 August 1997 in the village of Hnidyntsi, Chernihiv region. After graduating from the secondary school in 2010, he studied to become a pastry chef at the Ladansky branch of the Pryluky Professional Lyceum for four years. Then he entered the National Academy of Internal Affairs, where he graduated in 2017 with a degree in law enforcement and a special rank of police lieutenant.

From May 2017, he worked as a district police officer at the Pryluky Police Department of the Main Directorate of the National Police in Chernihiv Oblast.

In July 2018, he enlisted for military service under a contract in the military unit A2802.

In January 2020, he was transferred to the military unit A0878, where he served as a reconnaissance sapper.

In June – November 2019, he took part in the implementation of measures to ensure national security and defence of Mariupol, Donetsk region.

In 2020, he enrolled in part-time study in journalism at the State Institution "Taras Shevchenko National University of Luhansk".

In August 2021, he signed a contract with the A0409 military unit and became an anti-tank operator. Six months before the full-scale invasion, he signed a contract with the 30th Mechanized Brigade. This was his second contract. He served as an operator of an anti-tank platoon named after Prince Kostiantyn Ostrozkyi. He had the call sign "August".

On May 22, 2022, Serhii Bozhko was fatally wounded during an enemy assault near Luhansk, Bakhmut district, Donetsk region.[1][2][3]

He was buried on May 25, 2022, in the village Zhuravka, Pryluky district, Chernihiv region.[1]

Family

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The deceased is survived by his father Vitalii and mother Iryna Prokopenko.[4]

Awards

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  • the title of "Hero of Ukraine" with the Order of the Golden Star (July 8, 2023, posthumously) – for personal courage and heroism in defending the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, selfless service to the Ukrainian people.[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b "БОЖКО СЕРГІЙ ВІТАЛІЙОВИЧ". varvynska-gromada.gov.ua (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2023-07-24.
  2. ^ Kryzheva, Tatiana (July 8, 2023). "Загиблому добровольцю з Чернігівщини Сергію Божку присвоїли звання Герой України" [Serhiy Bozhko, a fallen volunteer from Chernihiv region, was awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine]. suspilne.media (in Ukrainian). Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  3. ^ Kryzheva, Tatiana (August 16, 2022). ""Який же я ветеран, якщо не був на першій лінії": історія загиблого на фронті Сергія Божка" ["What kind of a veteran am I if I wasn't on the front line": the story of Serhiy Bozhko, who died at the front]. suspilne.media (in Ukrainian). Retrieved July 24, 2023.
  4. ^ "Нові герої України: які історії стоять за кожною "Золотою зіркою"". ТСН.ua (in Ukrainian). 2023-07-09. Retrieved 2023-07-24.
  5. ^ ПРЕЗИДЕНТ УКРАЇНИ ВОЛОДИМИР ЗЕЛЕНСЬКИЙ. Офіційне інтернет-представництво. "УКАЗ ПРЕЗИДЕНТА УКРАЇНИ №383/2023. Про присвоєння С.Божку звання Герой України". president.gov.ua (in Ukrainian). Retrieved July 24, 2023.