Oleksii Seniuk

In this name that follows Eastern Slavic naming customs, the patronymic is Oleksandrovych and the family name is Seniuk.
Oleksii Seniuk
Native name
Олексій Олександрович Сенюк
Birth nameOleksii Oleksandrovych Seniuk
Born(1974-12-24)24 December 1974
Telizhyntsi, Kyiv Oblast, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union
Died27 February 2022(2022-02-27) (aged 47)
Chernihiv, Ukraine
Allegiance Ukraine
Service / branch Ukrainian Ground Forces
Years of service2014–2022
Rank Chief sergeant
Unit1st Tank Brigade
Battles / wars
AwardsHero of Ukraine Order of the Gold Star (posthumously)
Spouse(s)Iryna Seniuk
Children2

Oleksii Oleksandrovych Seniuk (Ukrainian: Олексі́й Олекса́ндрович Сеню́к; 24 December 1974 – 27 February 2022) was a Ukrainian veteran of the Russo-Ukrainian War. He was killed by Russian Armed Forces in the Siege of Chernihiv on 27 February 2022 during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He was posthumously awarded the Order of Gold Star.[1]

Early life

Oleksii Seniuk was born on 24 December 1974 in the village of Telizhyntsi (currently part of Tetiiv hromada) Bila Tserkva Raion of Kyiv Oblast. After finishing school, he worked as a builder.[1] [2]

Military career

He did his 18 month mandatory conscription service during 1990s.[3]

T-64BMs in Eastern Ukraine in 2014

When War in Donbas began in 2014, Oleksii joined the army, as a volunteer at first. Later he signed a contract and became a soldier in 3rd Company 1st Tank Brigade.[4][5] He took part in multiple battles operating T-64BV and T-64BM "Bulat" tanks.[6] In 2016, for his courage and heroism Oleksii was awarded Order for Courage III degree.[1][7] In November 2016, after returning from ATO Zone, he visited No.29 school[8] and Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs[9] to share his memories and experiences during combat. As he was promoted, he served as a tank commander. His call sign was Puma.[3]

When Russian invasion of Ukraine began on 24 February, Oleksii held the rank of Chief sergeant and together with his unit was tasked with defending city of Chernihiv.[10][11] In 3 days of heavy fighting he destroyed 2 Russian BMP's. Oleksii also managed to capture an enemy T-72 main battle tank.[12] On 26 February, Oleksii together with other soldiers from 1st Tank Brigade, was defending outskirts of Chernihiv. They were positioned in vicinity of Epicentr K shopping center. Next day, enemy hit Ukrainian positions near the center, with a rocket. Soon after, enemy began an artillery barrage of those same positions using 152mm caliber. Oleksii's friend Lieutenant Colonel Artem Linkov was sustained an injury to the head. Artem witnessed the death of his friend Oleksii. Artillery shells hit Oleksii's T-64. He screamed that he was burning. Tanks rounds began to cook off, causing Oleksii's body to be ejected from the tank.[13][14][15] It was first reported in March that Oleksii was killed during an airstrike.[16] Oleksii died on the birthday of one of his daughters. Because of heavy fighting during Siege of Chernihiv, his body was only recovered 45 days after his death.[1]

Oleksii was buried on 12 April 2022 in Nosivka. He is survived by his wife Iryna and 2 daughters, Angelina and Daniella.[17]

During 28 June 2023 on 27th anniversary of Ukraine's Constitution President Volodymyr Zelenskyy handed the Gold Star of the Hero of Ukraine award to Iryna, wife of Oleksii.[18]

Awards

  • The title of "Hero of Ukraine" with the deigning Order of the Golden Star (2 March 2022, posthumously) for personal courage and heroism shown in defending the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, loyalty to the military oath.[19]
  • Order for Courage III degree (2 December 2016) for personal contribution to strengthening the defense capabilities of Ukrainian state, courage, dedication and high professionalism, shown during military service, and on the occasion of the Day of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.[20]

Posthumous honors

To honor his heroism, Chernihiv working group of the city council on renaming proposed to rename one of the streets to Oleksii Seniuk street, in June 2022.[21] Chernihiv city website listed Kurs'ka Street as the street to be renamed.[22] On 9 February 2023, Chernihiv City Council released a list streets which they plan to rename. Hrybojedova street will become Oleksii Seniuk street. Current street is named for Alexander Griboyedov, a Russian diplomat, playwright, poet, and composer.[23][24] Hrybojedova street was renamed Oleksii Seniuk street by Chernihiv City Council on 9 February 2023.[25]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Наталія Задверняк (27 April 2022). "Герой України Олексій Сенюк загинув у день народження своєї донечки" [Hero of Ukraine Oleksiy Seniuk died on birthday of his daughter]. АрміяInform (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 30 April 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  2. ^ Павло Солодовник (13 April 2022). "В Носівці провели в останню путь загиблого захисника Чернігова" [In Nosivka, last respects were paid to the deceased defender of Chernihiv]. ЧЕline (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  3. ^ a b Сергій Бутко. "Сенюк Олексій Олександрович". Ukrainian Memorial (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 27 December 2022.
  4. ^ "Зустріч з волонтерами та учасником АТО" [Meeting with volunteers and participant of anti-terrorist operation] (in Ukrainian). 10 November 2016. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  5. ^ Світлана Білоус (28 December 2022). "Меморіал пам'яті: танкіст Олексій Сенюк" [Memorial to: tanker Oleksiy Seniuk]. ЧЕline (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  6. ^ David Axe (25 December 2022). "How Ukraine's 1st Tank Brigade Fought A Russian Force Ten Times Its Size—And Won". Forbes. Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  7. ^ "Для нас це вітчизняна війна, і ми знаємо, чим такі війни закінчуються для загарбників – звернення Президента України" [For us it is a patriotic war, and we know how such wars end for the invaders - the address of the President of Ukraine]. Офіс Президента України (in Ukrainian). 3 March 2022. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  8. ^ "Зустріч з волонтерами та учасником АТО" [Meeting with volunteers and participant of anti-terrorist operation] (in Ukrainian). 10 November 2016. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  9. ^ "Зустріч курсантів факультету № 1 з представниками волонтерського руху м. Харків та учасниками АТО" [Meeting of cadets of faculty № 1 with representatives of the volunteer movement of Kharkiv and participants of anti-terrorist operation]. Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs (in Ukrainian). 12 November 2016. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  10. ^ David Axe (11 February 2022). "A Single Ukrainian Tank Brigade Stands Between The Russian Army And Kyiv". Forbes. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  11. ^ David Axe (31 March 2022). "Ukraine's Best Tank Brigade Has Won The Battle For Chernihiv". Forbes. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  12. ^ Romeo Kokriatski (3 March 2022). "Zelensky awards title of Hero of Ukraine to 15 defenders". nv.ua. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
  13. ^ Natalia Shcherbina (9 November 2022). "Танкіст «Марс»: «Ми висунулися трьома танками проти тридцяти, взвод проти батальйону»" [Tanker "Mars": "We advanced with three tanks against thirty, a platoon against a battalion"]. ЧЕline (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  14. ^ Тіток, Андрій (6 December 2022). "Бій на "Епіцентрі", Ніколюк "віджав" блокпост, бій у Количівці — Битва за Чернігів 2 серія" [The battle at the "Epicenter", Nikoliuk recaptured checkpoint, the battle in Kolychivka — Battle for Chernihiv, episode 2] (video). youtube.com (in Ukrainian). Suspilne Chernihiv.
  15. ^ Денис Шапошніков (8 December 2022). "Бій на "Епіцентрі": найбільший "успіх" росіян у Чернігові зі спаленим танком, полоненим командиром та трофейною технікою" [The battle at the "Epicenter": the greatest "success" of the Russians in Chernihiv with a burnt tank, a captured commander and trophy equipment]. Suspilne (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  16. ^ Назарій Лазур (19 March 2022). "Внаслідок авіаудару загинув танкіст Олексій Сенюк, який захищав Україну з 2014 року" [As a result of the air strike, died tanker Oleksiy Senyuk, who has been defending Ukraine since 2014]. 24tv.ua (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  17. ^ "У Носівці поховали Героя України - захисника Чернігова" [The Hero of Ukraine - the defender of Chernihiv was buried in Nosivka] (in Ukrainian). svoboda.fm. 13 April 2022. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  18. ^ "On 27th anniversary of Ukraine's Constitution President proposes reference points of future Ukrainian Doctrine for discussion, presents state awards". Office of the President of Ukraine. 28 June 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  19. ^ Decree of the President of Ukraine from 2 March 2022 № 94/2022 «Про присвоєння звання Герой України» (in Ukrainian)
  20. ^ Decree of the President of Ukraine from 2 December 2016 № 538/2016 «Про відзначення державними нагородами України» (in Ukrainian)
  21. ^ Bilous, Svitlana (24 June 2022). "У Чернігові дерусифікують 55 вулиць" [In Chernihiv, 55 streets will be de-Russified]. ЧЕline (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 12 January 2023.
  22. ^ "Вулиці нашого міста" [Streets of our City]. 0462.ua (in Ukrainian). 5 June 2022. Retrieved 13 January 2023.
  23. ^ "У Чернігові планують перейменувати 36 вулиць та провулків" [36 streets and alleys are planned to be renamed in Chernihiv]. chernigiv-rada.gov.ua (in Ukrainian). 8 February 2023. Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  24. ^ Varkhol, Vira (9 February 2023). "У Чернігові пропонують до перейменування 36 вулиць: на чию честь їх хочуть назвати" [In Chernihiv, 36 streets are proposed to be renamed: in whose honor do they want to name them]. Suspilne (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 15 February 2023.
  25. ^ Shaposhnikov, Denys (21 February 2023). "Проспект Грушевського, вулиці 1-ї танкової бригади та Небесної Сотні: у Чернігові перейменували 37 вулиць та провулків" [Hrushevsky Avenue, 1st Tank Brigade Street and Nebesnaya Sotna Street: 37 streets and alleys were renamed in Chernihiv]. Suspilne (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 15 February 2023.

Sources