Denys Prokopenko
Denys Prokopenko | |
|---|---|
Денис Прокопенко | |
Prokopenko during the defense of Azovstal, May 2022 | |
| Commander of the Azov Brigade | |
| Assumed office 17 July 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Maksym Zhorin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 20 June 1991 |
| Nationality | Ukrainian |
| Spouse | Kateryna Prokopenko |
| Alma mater | Kyiv National Linguistic University National Defence University of Ukraine |
| Nickname | Ре́діс (Redis) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Ukraine |
| Branch/service | |
| Years of service | 2014–present |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Commands | Azov Brigade |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | |
Denys Hennadiyovych Prokopenko (born 27 June 1991) is a Ukrainian military officer who is a lieutenant colonel in the National Guard of Ukraine and commander of the 12th Special Forces Brigade "Azov", as well as a prominent participant of the Russo-Ukrainian War.
In response to the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, Prokopenko rose as a leader defending Mariupol from the Russian siege, and commanded the Mariupol garrison. For his leadership role on the frontlines of the war, he was awarded the title Hero of Ukraine in March 2022.
Prokopenko is also known as Redis, an old football ultra nickname that became his military call sign. His subordinates are reported to address him informally as "Brother Redis" or "Comrade Redis".