On March 24, 2022, during the battle to liberate the village of Lukianivka in Kyiv Oblast, Ukrainian serviceman and fighter of the 3rd Separate Battalion of the Ukrainian Volunteer Army, Denys Kotenko, was killed in action.
From a young age, he was devoted to sports—practicing boxing and earning championship titles and medals in regional competitions. He was also an ardent supporter of the Dnipro football club, actively participating in the ultras movement.
When war broke out in Donbas, Denys joined the volunteer movement. As part of the Azov Special Purpose Regiment, he fought in the battle for Shyrokyne in Donetsk Oblast, demonstrating unwavering courage and dedication to his country. In the fall of 2021, he began working in the press service of Ukraine’s Ministry of Veterans Affairs, making a significant contribution to highlighting issues related to the protection of Ukraine’s defenders.
However, on February 24, 2022, when Russia launched its full-scale invasion, Denys once again took up arms to defend his homeland. He fought with the 3rd Separate Battalion of the Ukrainian Volunteer Army. After a month of intense battles, he fell in Kyiv Oblast while driving out the last remnants of the occupiers attempting to seize the Ukrainian capital. His comrades remember him as a fearless warrior who fulfilled his duty until his final breath.
On March 31, 2022, the Hero was laid to rest in his native Dnipro. He was only 25 years old. His two-year-old son was left without a father.
Posthumously, Denys was awarded the Order of Courage, 3rd Class. On December 8, 2022, in his honor, the Kyiv City Council renamed Suvorov Street to Denys Kotenko Street. In Dnipro, the former 152nd Division Street now also bears his name.
The bright memory of Denys Kotenko will live on in the hearts of his family, comrades, and all who knew him as a true patriot of Ukraine. Eternal glory to the Hero!