Serhii Khavanskykh

Senior soldier Serhii Khavanskykh, call sign Cowboy, died late at night on July 29, 2022, in Olenivka, Donetsk region. The russian army committed a war crime by blowing up the barracks where Ukrainian prisoners of war were held.

Serhii was 37 years old. He was born in the city of Melitopol, Zaporizhzhia region. For a year before the full-scale war, he lived a civilian life but remained a reservist in the “Azov” regiment. Before that, he served in the reconnaissance department for radio-technical equipment. He founded his own business, working in 3D modeling and 3D printing. In 2021, he married his beloved Arina.

“Serhii modeled in a specialized engineering program and then printed pistols, blasters, and rifles from various computer games in original sizes on a 3D printer. Most of his products were in demand among Americans. My beloved left me a 3D printer as a legacy, which gave me the push to continue Serhii’s work. For some time now, I have been printing for the army,” his wife Arina said.

The couple had a cat at home, which they had picked up on the shore of the Sea of Azov. They were also thinking about expanding their family. They loved trips to the “Kamyana Mohyla” reserve, where they could be alone together. They ate pizza or shawarma and enjoyed the beauty of the Ukrainian steppe.

On the morning of February 24, 2022, Serhii packed his things and went to help his comrades in Mariupol. He went through fierce battles. When it became known that he would be taken prisoner, he believed he would be exchanged…

In January 2023, Serhii’s brother and mother submitted DNA samples. In May, they received the first match from the DNA test, and in June—the second.

The soldier was cremated on June 1, 2024, in Kyiv.

He was awarded the Order “For Courage” III degree.

Serhii is survived by his wife, mother, brother, and other relatives.

Source: Memorial

Contributors: Sophia Yakivtsiv and Tetiana Spindel (translators), Liena Shulika (designer)