Jump to content

Denys Prokopenko

Extended-protected article
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the Ukrainian Azov Regiment commander. For the Kazakh football player, seeDenis Prokopenko.

In this name that followsEastern Slavic naming customs,thepatronymicisHennadiyovychand thefamily nameisProkopenko.
Hero of Ukraine
Denys Prokopenko
Денис Прокопенко
Prokopenko during the defense of Azovstal, May 2022
Commander of the Azov Brigade
Incumbent
Assumed office
17 July 2023
Preceded byMaksym Zhorin
Personal details
Born
Denys Hennadiyovych Prokopenko

(1991-06-20)20 June 1991(age 33)
NationalityUkrainian
SpouseKateryna Prokopenko
Alma materKyiv National Linguistic University
National Defence University of Ukraine
NicknameРе́діс (Redis)
Military service
AllegianceUkraine
Branch/service
Years of service2014–present
RankLieutenant Colonel
CommandsAzov Brigade
Battles/wars
Awards

Denys Hennadiyovych Prokopenko(Ukrainian:Дени́с Генна́дійович Прокопе́нко,IPA:[deˈnɪsɦeˈnːad⁽ʲ⁾ijoʋɪt͡ʃprokoˈpɛnko];born 27 June 1991) is aUkrainianmilitary officer who is aLieutenant Colonelof theNational Guard of Ukraineand Commander of the 12th Special Forces Brigade "Azov",[1][2]as well as a prominent participant of theRussian-Ukrainian war.[3]

In response to the full-scaleRussian invasion of Ukraine,Prokopenko rose as a leader defendingMariupolfrom theRussian siege,and commanded the Mariupol garrison. For his leadership role on the frontlines of the war, he was awarded the titleHero of Ukrainein March 2022.[4][5]

Prokopenko is also known asRedis(Ukrainian:Ре́діс,IPA:[ˈrɛd⁽ʲ⁾is][a]), an oldfootball ultranickname that became hismilitary call sign.His subordinates are reported to address him informally as "Brother Redis" or "Comrade Redis" (Ukrainian:«Дру́же Ре́діс»,romanized:«Drúzhe Rédis»,lit. 'Friend Redis',[ˈdruʒeˈrɛd⁽ʲ⁾is]).[3][6]

Biography

Since childhood, he has been involved in sports — football and martial arts. Before the start of theRussian-Ukrainian war,he was an active fan and ultra-supporter of the Kyiv football clubDynamo.[7]For him, football is of particular importance because of its discipline, team spirit, and camaraderie. Together with his wife, he enjoys outdoor activities and during his vacations he would always go to the mountains to go skiing. His personal record is 91 km/h.[7]

He graduated from the Department ofGermanic PhilologyatKyiv National Linguistic University,where he earned a degree with a specialty inteaching English.[3]He also played sports, and was a member of the far-rightWhite Boys Clubfootballfan(known as "ultras") organization of thefootball clubDynamo Kyiv.[8][9]

In 2020, he entered theNational Defense University of Ukraine(Command and Staff Institute for the Use of Troops), specializing in Combat Use and Control of Military Units of Mechanized and Tank Troops.[10]

Military career

War in Donbas

From 11 July 2014 Prokopenko has participated in thewar in Donbas,initially as an enlisted soldier and then as leader of aplatoonand acompany.In a July 2016 interview he described improvements in the military capabilities of his troops: “Although we lost a lot of experienced guys from the old squad, we've grown in quantity and quality. Discipline and combat efficiency have improved. We used to run with bobby pistols andsawn-off shots;now we have opportunities to work with tacticaltankgroups,armored vehicles,artillerysupport. We gradually developed ourmilitary sciencedoctrine—starting with practice, not theory. In the course of training and fighting, the lads masteredtacticsandsmall armsproficiency. Many new possibilities opened for us: we can operate independently on the frontlines, free of other subunits that constantly let us down in combat operations.”[6][11]In September 2017 he was promoted to the rank ofmajorand given control of theAzov Regiment,becoming the youngest commander in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.[12][3]

Defence of Mariupol

For broader coverage of this topic, seeSiege of Mariupol.
During the 2022Siege of Mariupol,Major Prokopenko recorded a video message on 7 March exhorting theinternational communityto establish ano-fly zoneover Ukraine, and warning of an impendinghumanitarian crisis.

Following the full-scaleRussian invasion of Ukraine,Prokopenko recorded a video message on 7 March 2022 in which he called forclosing the skies over Ukraineto help averthumanitarian collapseinMariupol,since “the enemy isbreaking the rules of the warbyshellingthe civilian people and destroying theinfrastructureof the city; the enemy is subjecting Mariupol to anothergenocide.”[13][14]

On 19 March 2022, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarded the titleHero of Ukraineto the commanders of two units that led the defense of Mariupol: Prokopenko and the commander of the36th Separate Marine Brigade,ColonelVolodymyr Baranyuk.MajorDenis Prokopenko received the highest honor “for bravery, for effective tactics to repel enemy attacks, and for protection of the hero city of Mariupol.”[5][8]

On 12 April 2022, Prokopenko appeared in a video message, to report on charges thatRussian chemical weaponshad been dropped onto Mariupol in adroneattack: “Yesterday the occupiers used a poisonous substance of unknown origin against military and civilians in Mariupol. The epicenter of the attack was not near the people, so contact with the substance was minimal, which possibly saved lives—but there are still consequences. Currently it's impossible to find out what substance poisoned people, because we are under complete blockade, and the site of the attack is under fire by the Russians to hide evidence of their crime.” Regardless of the sudden international focus on thechemical attack,he went on to claim that thousands of civilians in the city had been killed and continued to be slaughtered by constant ongoing Russianairstrikes,naval bombardment,heavyflamethrowersystems,artillery,andphosphorus munitions.[15][non-primary source needed]On 13 April 2022, it was confirmed by the official Twitter account of the Azov regiment that Prokopenko was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel.[16]

On 11 May 2022, Pope Francis met in the Vatican with the wives of Azov Regiment soldiersKateryna ProkopenkoandYulia Fedosiuk.[17][18][19][20][21]On 16 May 2022, a social media post was released by Prokopenko stating: "In order to save lives, the entire Mariupol garrison is implementing the approved decision of the Supreme Military Command and hopes for the support of the Ukrainian people." This statement follows Russia's decision to "evacuate" wounded Ukrainian soldiers from theAzovstal plantand for them to be taken to theDPR-controlled town ofNovoazovskfor treatment.[22]

Captivity

On 20 May 2022, he surrendered to the Russian military along with the last defenders of the Azovstal plant, after stating in a final video message on Telegram: "The higher military command has given the order to save the lives of the soldiers of our garrison and to stop defending the city." Since theRussian Dumawas attempting to classify Azov as a terrorist organization, the question of whether Russia considered Prokopenko as a prisoner of war (POW) remained in doubt.[23][24]On 24 May, his wife Kateryna confirmed that he was in Russian captivity and that she had been able to talk to him on the phone.[25]

Exchange

Denys Prokopenko embracing his wife Kateryna in Turkey, October 2022

On 21 September 2022, Prokopenko was released in a prisoner swap.[26]Under the agreement, Prokopenko and four other top Ukrainian commanders from the Azovstal siege were required to stay inTurkeyuntil the end of the war.[27]

In a May 2023 interview, Kateryna Prokopenko gave details of her husband's stay in Turkey: "They are at a closed security facility. Even we do not know where exactly. They are not at a resort or sea. They have a certain regime, regulated calls, a schedule. They are not being tortured like in Russia, but, nevertheless, they are not completely free." She said that while she was grateful for the deal that got Denys out of Russian captivity, she expressed hope that he would return to Ukraine soon.[28]

Return to Ukraine

On 8 July 2023, Ukrainian PresidentVolodymyr Zelenskyyannounced that Azov commanders had been brought back to Ukraine from Turkey, posting a video of five Azov commanders boarding his plane, including Prokopenko.[29]On 17 July, in a press release by Azov, Prokopenko announced he would resume his military service, and return to command of the Azov Brigade.[30]

Return to Azov

On 4 August 2023, Prokopenko took part in tactical exercises of the personnel.[31]On 23 August 2023, Azov's press service published a photo of "Redis" at the command post on the front line holding a flag on the occasion of a national holiday. Since August 2023, the Azov brigade under the command of Prokopenko has been performing combat missions in the Lyman direction in the area of theSerebryansky forest.[32]In the first weeks, the unit managed to advance Ukrainian positions with minimal losses.[33]

Family

Denys Prokopenko is a descendant of ethnicKarelians.Prokopenko today considers his fight to defend Ukraine againstRussian imperialismfromMoscowa personal matter, closely intertwined with his own family history:[3]

"It feels like I continued the same war, only on another section of the front, a war against the occupation regime of theKremlin.My grandfather had such a terrible hatred forcommunism,forBolshevism,for theSovok... Can you imagine what it's like to lose your family? I mean, all his brothers perished, his kinfolk... ".

He is married toKateryna Prokopenko.[34]

Awards and Recognition

In October 2022, he was included in the list of the 25 most influential Ukrainian servicemen by NV.[36]In November 2023, he was included in the list of leaders of Ukraine by UP-100.[37]

Notes

  1. ^Russian:Ре́дис,romanized:Rédis,IPA:[ˈrʲedʲɪs](proper nounwithstresson the first syllable—thus, contrary to some mistranslations,contrastivewith‹See Tfd›реди́с,redís,'radish', which is stressed on the final syllable)

References

  1. ^"Azov Brigade commander meets with personnel, announces his return to service".Ukrinform.16 July 2023.Archivedfrom the original on 16 July 2023.Retrieved17 July2023.
  2. ^Tetyana Oliynuk (31 January 2024)."The future belongs to technology and infantry:Azov commander talks about the best weapons – video ".Ukrainska Pravda.Retrieved12 February2024.
  3. ^abcde""Ми досить міцні, щоб кров'ю і потом відвойовувати нашу землю…" – Герой України Денис Прокопенко "[ "We are strong enough to reconquer our land, by blood and sweat…" - Hero of Ukraine Denis Prokopenko] (in Ukrainian). 23 March 2022.Archivedfrom the original on 3 April 2022.Retrieved9 April2022.До речі, Денис — потомок етнічного карела, який чудом уцілів у Зимовій війні 1939-1940 рр., тому для нього захист України — справа особиста: «Таке відчуття, що я продовжив ту саму війну, але на іншій ділянці фронту, війну проти окупаційного режиму Кремля. У мого діда була така жахлива ненависть до комунізму, до більшовизму, до Совка… Уявляєш, що таке втратити свою родину? Тобто, всі його брати загинули, рідня…»[By the way, Denis is a descendant of an ethnic Karelian who miraculously survived the Winter War of 1939-1940, so for him the defense of Ukraine is a personal matter: "It feels like I continued the same war, only on another section of the front, a war against the occupation regime of the Kremlin. My grandfather had such a terrible hatred for communism, for Bolshevism, for the Sovok... Can you imagine what it's like to lose your family? I mean, all his brothers perished, his kinfolk..." ]
  4. ^"Змістовні переговори про мир і безпеку для України – єдиний шанс для Росії зменшити шкоду від власних помилок – звернення Президента Володимира Зеленського"[Meaningful talks on peace and security for Ukraine are the only chance for Russia to reduce the damage from its own mistakes - address by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy] (in Ukrainian). 19 March 2022.Archivedfrom the original on 3 April 2022.Retrieved9 April2022.
  5. ^ab"Указ Президента України №148/2022 — «Про присвоєння звання Герой України»"[Decree of the President of Ukraine №148 / 2022 - "On conferring the title of Hero of Ukraine" ] (in Ukrainian). 19 March 2022.Archivedfrom the original on 6 April 2022.Retrieved9 April2022.
  6. ^ab"Интервью Редиса"[Redis Interview] (in Russian). 20 July 2016.Archivedfrom the original on 6 April 2022.Retrieved9 April2022.
  7. ^abIryna Kozyupa (8 July 2023).""He traveled all over Ukraine for Dynamo." The hero of "Azovstal" Radis is an ultras and a big fan of sports "(in Ukrainian). UA.Tribuna.com.Retrieved16 February2024.
  8. ^ab"Ультрас Динамо отримав звання" Героя України "- Футбол 24"[Ultras Dynamo received title "Hero of Ukraine" - Football 24] (in Ukrainian). 20 March 2022.Archivedfrom the original on 4 April 2022.Retrieved9 April2022.
  9. ^Golinkin, Lev (13 June 2023)."The Western Media Is Whitewashing the Azov Battalion".The Nation.Retrieved3 July2023.Prokopenko, for his part, came out of the White Boys Club, superfans of the Dynamo Kyiv soccer team (far-right groups organized around soccer teams are common across Europe), who celebrated him when he was given an award in October 2022. The group's Facebook posts have typically included phrases like "100% White" and "88" (code for "Heil Hitler" ), praise for Holocaust perpetrators, and Waffen-SS insignia.
  10. ^Vadym Koval (8 January 2024)."Denys" Redis "Prokipenko - Biongaphy"(in Ukrainian). Znaki.Retrieved16 February2024.
  11. ^"Інтерв'ю Редіса"[Interview with Redis] (in Ukrainian). 20 July 2016.Archivedfrom the original on 4 April 2022.Retrieved9 April2022.
  12. ^Исак, Александр (22 June 2018)."Экскурсия в" Азов ". Один день с украинским полком спецназначения".Радио Свобода(in Russian).Retrieved12 June2022.
  13. ^Official appeal of Azov commander, the major Denis Prokopenko, to the world community.Національний Корпус. 7 March 2022.Archivedfrom the original on 18 March 2022.Retrieved4 April2022– viaYouTube.
  14. ^"Командир полку" Азов "закликає закрити небо над Україною"[Commander of the Azov Regiment calls for closing the skies over Ukraine] (in Ukrainian). 7 March 2022.Archivedfrom the original on 3 April 2022.Retrieved9 April2022.
  15. ^Росія ЗДІЙСНИЛА хімічну атаку по Маріуполю – є постраждалі серед цивільних і військових[Russia carried out a chemical attack on Mariupol - there are casualties among civilians and military]. Національний Корпус. 12 April 2022.Archivedfrom the original on 13 April 2022.Retrieved12 April2022– viaYouTube.
  16. ^Address by the Commander of the Azov Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Denis Prokopenko, to the world community.@Polk_Azov. 13 April 2022.Retrieved14 April2022– viaTwitter.
  17. ^Nicole Winfield,Wives of Mariupol defenders to pope: 'You are our last hope'//The Washington Post,11.5.2022.
  18. ^Nick Squires,Azovstal wives beg Pope Francis to ‘talk to Putin and save our husbands’//The Daily Telegraph.— 11.5.2022.
  19. ^Wives of Mariupol defenders appeal for soldiers' evacuation // The Washington Post, 30.4.2022.
  20. ^Wives of Mariupol defenders appeal for evacuationonYouTube// Associated Press, 30.4.2022.
  21. ^Папа Римський зустрівся з дружинами бійців полку «Азов», заблокованих у Маріуполі// Радіо Свобода, 11.5.2022.
  22. ^"Azovstal defenders appear to signal end of siege".The Jerusalem Post.16 May 2022.Retrieved15 May2022.
  23. ^"На" Азовстали "сдался командир батальона" Азов "".RBS(in Russian). 21 May 2022.
  24. ^"Russian army takes control of Mariupol's Azovstal steel plant".the Guardian.21 May 2022.Retrieved21 May2022.
  25. ^Ukrainian soldiers captured at Azovstal plant in ‘satisfactory’ conditions
  26. ^Ljunggren, David (22 September 2022)."Russia frees 215 Ukrainians held after Mariupol battle, Ukraine says".Reuters.
  27. ^"Ukrainians celebrate prisoner swap as Russian nationalists fume".Financial Times.22 September 2022.
  28. ^"Leadership of Azov Brigade stays at closed security facility in Turkey - wife of Prokopenko".Ukrinform.20 May 2023.Retrieved8 July2023.
  29. ^"Ukraine's Zelenskyy brings home Azovstal commanders from Turkey".Al Jazeera.8 July 2023.Retrieved9 July2023.
  30. ^"Azov Brigade commander meets with personnel, announces his return to service".Ukrinform.16 July 2023.Retrieved17 July2023.
  31. ^Olha Lipych (14 August 2023)."Denys Prokopenko Redis returned to service - photo from the Azov training"(in Ukrainian). OBOZ.UA.Retrieved12 February2024.
  32. ^Maryna Lisnichuk (17 August 2023)."Azov returned to the front - where he will fight - the war in Ukraine"(in Ukrainian). OBOZ.UA.Retrieved12 February2024.
  33. ^Natalia Kulyk (7 September 2023)."Return of the legend: Azov commander Denys Prokopenko once again directs operations at the front"(in Ukrainian). ICTV.Retrieved12 February2024.
  34. ^"Anguish for partners of Mariupol's defenders as Russian assault goes on".the Guardian.7 May 2022.Retrieved8 May2022.
  35. ^"Указ Президента України № 176/2015 — «Про відзначення державними нагородами України військовослужбовців Національної гвардії України»"[Decree of the President of Ukraine № 176/2015 - "On the awarding of state awards of Ukraine to servicemen of the National Guard of Ukraine" ] (in Ukrainian). 25 March 2015.Archivedfrom the original on 6 April 2022.Retrieved9 April2022.
  36. ^"Взвод № 1. НВ називає 25 найвпливовіших українських військових"(in Ukrainian). NV.Retrieved12 February2024.
  37. ^"УП відзначила лідерів України в категорії" Захисники ""(in Ukrainian). Українська правда.Retrieved12 February2024.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Denys_Prokopenko&oldid=1241437371"