Prokopenko Denys

He graduated from the Faculty of Germanic Philology at Kyiv National Linguistic University with a degree as an English language teacher, but did not work in this profession. On July 11, 2014, Denys Prokopenko began his service in the "Azov" battalion and took part in all combat operations of the unit's summer campaign: the battles for Marinka, Ilovaisk, and Shyrokyne. During the Pavlopil-Shyrokyne operation "Radis," he commanded the 1st company. From the very beginning of his military service, Denys Prokopenko's personal qualities were noted by his commanders. In 2017, Denys Prokopenko became the commander of the "Azov" Special Operations Detachment. At that time, he was the youngest commander in the history of the National Guard and the Armed Forces of Ukraine, being only 26 years old. In 2020, he enrolled at the National Defense University of Ukraine (Command and Staff Institute for the Application of Troops), specializing in "Combat Employment and Command of Mechanized and Tank Units." Within the "Azov" Special Operations Detachment, Denys Prokopenko always emphasized the training of personnel, and every training session began with mastering and reviewing modern protocols for providing pre-medical care. During the defense of Mariupol, this knowledge saved many lives. On March 19, 2022, during the defense of Mariupol, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky, for personal courage and heroism shown in defending the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and loyalty to the military oath, awarded Denys Prokopenko the title of Hero of Ukraine with the presentation of the "Golden Star" order. His main achievement lies in transforming "Azov" from a volunteer unit into a professional combat formation according to the standards of modern military practice. From April 7, 2025, Denys Prokopenko was appointed commander of the 1st Corps of the National Guard "Azov." On August 26, 2026, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Denys Prokopenko would head one of two renewed groupings in the Donetsk region. On September 13, 2026, Denys Prokopenko will begin commanding the "Azov" troop grouping.