Soldier of the 30th Brigade held a position in the Kharkiv region for 232 days while severely wounded
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has conferred the title of Hero of Ukraine upon soldier Kostyantyn Vlasenko of the 30th Prince Kostiantyn Ostrozkyi Separate Mechanized Brigade. The defender carried out combat missions at a position for 491 days, spending 232 of those days entirely alone while suffering from severe wounds. This is reported by the portal PromPolitInform, citing information from Office of the President of Ukraine.
The serviceman continuously stayed at the Vertun firing position near the village of Sinkivka in the Kharkiv sector from June 3, 2025, to February 15, 2026. Despite constant Russian shelling, he prevented the enemy from maneuvering, destroyed manpower and equipment on the approaches, and adjusted the fire and drone operations of his unit.
Destruction of the position and soldier’s injury
In mid-February, Russian drones and artillery completely destroyed the stronghold. Kostyantyn Vlasenko and his fellow serviceman survived, but during their retreat came under enemy drone attack, resulting in severe gunshot wounds to both legs for soldier Vlasenko, while his comrade went missing. The defender found shelter near a school and administered first aid to himself, as evacuation by ground means or robotic complexes was impossible due to intense enemy fire.
Survival behind enemy lines
Gangrene caused the soldier to lose one foot, and he had to amputate the second one himself due to the severity of the wounds. Despite this, Kostyantyn Vlasenko continued covertly observing the enemy and providing vital information to his fellow servicemen. The evacuation required several months of preparation and was successfully completed through the joint efforts of several brigades and an unmanned systems manufacturer.
Successful evacuation special operation
On October 4, the soldier was successfully evacuated using a modified Heavy Shot Ayudag-6 heavy multifunctional hexacopter. The operation lasted slightly over an hour under the command of senior soldier Serhii Stoyan, supported by a ground team and immediate medical assistance provided upon extraction. The Head of State honored senior soldier Serhii Stoyan with the For Saved Life medal, and all other participants in the rescue operation will receive state awards.
Illustrative photo: President Of Ukraine from Україна / CC0
Read also: President: Doing everything to ensure the humanitarian operation in Oleshky succeeds
