President Volodymyr Zelensky has awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine, along with the Order of the Gold Star, to Sergeant Oleksii Kapeliushnyi.
The relevant decree No. 1021/2026 dated 2 October was published on the head of state’s website.
“To confer the title of Hero of Ukraine, with the presentation of the Order of the Gold Star, on Oleksii Vitaliiovych Kapeliushnyi, Sergeant,” the document states.
The title was awarded for personal courage and heroism shown in defending Ukraine’s state sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as for selfless service to the Ukrainian people.
Oleksii Kapeliushnyi is a serviceman of the 25th Separate Airborne Sicheslav Brigade of the Air Assault Forces. In March 2022, near Verkhnotoretske on the Avdiivka axis, he was left alone against superior Russian forces, sustained a severe injury, cut off his damaged leg himself, and continued fighting.
In an interview with Anzhelika Syzonenko on LB Live, Kapeliushnyi spoke about that battle: a massive artillery bombardment, a tank breakthrough, the deaths of his comrades, being surrounded, five grenades in a small room, the amputation of his leg, and several hours of defending alone.
The serviceman was taken prisoner by Russia. He spoke about torture in Horlivka, an operation during which his leg was amputated above the knee, beatings and electric shocks, as well as being held in Olenivka and the Sukhodolska penal colony.