Our heroes

A FEAT WORTH THE HIGHEST HONOR: A SOLDIER OF THE 23RD SEPARATE MECHANIZED BRIGADE AWARDED THE “CROSS OF COMBAT MERIT”

On May 6, Infantry Day of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky presented one of the highest awards — the “Cross of Combat Merit” — to soldiers who demonstrated exceptional courage. Among them is Junior Sergeant Serhiy Prin, a combat medic of the 23rd Separate Mechanized Brigade.

During a battle near Novomykhailivka, Serhiy was ambushed, engaged in combat, eliminated two occupants, held back enemy advancement, detected sabotage and reconnaissance groups, repelled assaults, and maintained positions.

A STORY OF COURAGE: NORMAN

In war, you often meet people who are hard to imagine in military uniform. Artem Antipov, or “Norman” as his brothers-in-arms call him, is one of them. Until recently, at 48, he was managing a branch of the insurance company “PZU Ukraine” in Kryvyi Rih.

His days were spent between office routines, client meetings, and corporate reports. But on March 3, 2022, this quiet life was left behind.

A summons from the military commissariat, a quick medical examination — and Artem was already in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

MACHINE GUN PLATOON COMMANDER OF THE 23RD SEPARATE MECHANIZED BRIGADE WITH THE CALL CODE “RAMZES”

The commander of the machine gun platoon of the 23rd Separate Mechanized Brigade with the call sign “Ramses” was born in the village of Polkova Mykytivka in the Kharkiv region. He lived an ordinary life, worked in electric and gas welding, until the full-scale invasion occurred. From the first days, Ramses joined the territorial defense, and later found himself in the Territorial Recruitment and Social Support Center of the Kharkiv region.

During the counteroffensive in the Kharkiv region, his unit was returned to his home district, and after its disbandment, he joined the ranks of the 23rd Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.