Denys Prokopenko

This article is about the Ukrainian Azov Regiment commander. For the Kazakh football player, see Denis Prokopenko.

In this name that follows Eastern Slavic naming customs, the patronymic is Hennadiyovych and the family name is Prokopenko.

Hero of Ukraine Denys Prokopenko
Денис Прокопенко
Prokopenko during the defense of Azovstal, May 2022
Commander of the Azov Brigade
Incumbent
Assumed office 17 July 2023
Preceded by	Maksym Zhorin
Personal details
Born	Denys Hennadiyovych Prokopenko (1991-06-20) 20 June 1991 (age 32)
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	Ministry of Internal Affairs National Guard
Years of service	2014–present
Rank	Lieutenant Colonel
Commands	Azov Brigade
Battles/wars	Russo-Ukrainian War War in Donbas Russian invasion of Ukraine Siege of Mariupol
Awards	Hero of Ukraine Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky Medal For Military Service to Ukraine

Denys Hennadiyovych Prokopenko (Ukrainian: Дени́с Генна́дійович Прокопе́нко, IPA: [deˈnɪs ɦeˈnːad⁽ʲ⁾ijoʋɪt͡ʃ prokoˈpɛnko]; born 27 June 1991) is a Ukrainian military officer who is a Lieutenant Colonel of the National Guard of Ukraine and Commander of the 12th Special Forces Brigade "Azov",^[1][2] as well as a prominent participant of the Russian-Ukrainian war.^[3]

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.^[4][5]

Prokopenko is also known as Redis (Ukrainian: Ре́діс, IPA: [ˈrɛd⁽ʲ⁾is]^[a]), 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" (Ukrainian: «Дру́же Ре́діс», romanized: «Drúzhe Rédis», lit. 'Friend Redis', [ˈdruʒe ˈrɛd⁽ʲ⁾is]).^[3][6]

Biography

Since childhood, he has been involved in sports — football and martial arts. Before the start of the Russian-Ukrainian war, he was an active fan and ultra-supporter of the Kyiv football club Dynamo.^[7] For him, football is of particular importance because of its discipline, team spirit, and camaraderie. Together with his wife, he enjoys outdoor activities and during his vacations he would always go to the mountains to go skiing. His personal record is 91 km/h.^[7]

He graduated from the Department of Germanic Philology at Kyiv National Linguistic University, where he earned a degree with a specialty in teaching English.^[3] He also played sports, and was a member of the far-right White Boys Club football fan (known as "ultras") organization of the football club Dynamo Kyiv.^[8][9]

In 2020, he entered the National Defense University of Ukraine (Command and Staff Institute for the Use of Troops), specializing in Combat Use and Control of Military Units of Mechanized and Tank Troops.^[10]

Military career

War in Donbas

From 11 July 2014 Prokopenko has participated in the war in Donbas, initially as an enlisted soldier and then as leader of a platoon and a company. In a July 2016 interview he described improvements in the military capabilities of his troops: “Although we lost a lot of experienced guys from the old squad, we've grown in quantity and quality. Discipline and combat efficiency have improved. We used to run with bobby pistols and sawn-off shots; now we have opportunities to work with tactical tank groups, armored vehicles, artillery support. We gradually developed our military science doctrine—starting with practice, not theory. In the course of training and fighting, the lads mastered tactics and small arms proficiency. Many new possibilities opened for us: we can operate independently on the frontlines, free of other subunits that constantly let us down in combat operations.”^[6][11] In September 2017 he was promoted to the rank of major and given control of the Azov Regiment, becoming the youngest commander in the Armed Forces of Ukraine.^[12][3]

Defence of Mariupol

For broader coverage of this topic, see Siege of Mariupol.

During the 2022 Siege of Mariupol, Major Prokopenko recorded a video message on 7 March exhorting the international community to establish a no-fly zone over Ukraine, and warning of an impending humanitarian crisis.

Following the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, Prokopenko recorded a video message on 7 March 2022 in which he called for closing the skies over Ukraine to help avert humanitarian collapse in Mariupol, since “the enemy is breaking the rules of the war by shelling the civilian people and destroying the infrastructure of the city; the enemy is subjecting Mariupol to another genocide.”^[13][14]

On 19 March 2022, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy awarded the title Hero of Ukraine to the commanders of two units that led the defense of Mariupol: Prokopenko and the commander of the 36th Separate Marine Brigade, Colonel Volodymyr Baranyuk. Major Denis Prokopenko received the highest honor “for bravery, for effective tactics to repel enemy attacks, and for protection of the hero city of Mariupol.”^[5][8]

On 12 April 2022, Prokopenko appeared in a video message, to report on charges that Russian chemical weapons had been dropped onto Mariupol in a drone attack: “Yesterday the occupiers used a poisonous substance of unknown origin against military and civilians in Mariupol. The epicenter of the attack was not near the people, so contact with the substance was minimal, which possibly saved lives—but there are still consequences. Currently it's impossible to find out what substance poisoned people, because we are under complete blockade, and the site of the attack is under fire by the Russians to hide evidence of their crime.” Regardless of the sudden international focus on the chemical attack, he went on to claim that thousands of civilians in the city had been killed and continued to be slaughtered by constant ongoing Russian airstrikes, naval bombardment, heavy flamethrower systems, artillery, and phosphorus munitions.^{[15][non-primary source needed]} On 13 April 2022, it was confirmed by the official Twitter account of the Azov regiment that Prokopenko was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel.^[16]

On 11 May 2022, Pope Francis met in the Vatican with the wives of Azov Regiment soldiers Kateryna Prokopenko and Yulia Fedosiuk.^{[17][18][19][20][21]} On 16 May 2022, a social media post was released by Prokopenko stating: "In order to save lives, the entire Mariupol garrison is implementing the approved decision of the Supreme Military Command and hopes for the support of the Ukrainian people." This statement follows Russia's decision to "evacuate" wounded Ukrainian soldiers from the Azovstal plant and for them to be taken to the DPR-controlled town of Novoazovsk for treatment.^[22]

Captivity

On 20 May 2022, he surrendered to the Russian military along with the last defenders of the Azovstal plant, after stating in a final video message on Telegram: "The higher military command has given the order to save the lives of the soldiers of our garrison and to stop defending the city." Since the Russian Duma was attempting to classify Azov as a terrorist organization, the question of whether Russia considered Prokopenko as a prisoner of war (POW) remained in doubt.^[23][24] On 24 May, his wife Kateryna confirmed that he was in Russian captivity and that she had been able to talk to him on the phone.^[25]

Exchange

Denys Prokopenko embracing his wife Kateryna in Turkey, October 2022

On 21 September 2022, Prokopenko was released in a prisoner swap.^[26] Under the agreement, Prokopenko and four other top Ukrainian commanders from the Azovstal siege were required to stay in Turkey until the end of the war.^[27]

In a May 2023 interview, Kateryna Prokopenko gave details of her husband's stay in Turkey: "They are at a closed security facility. Even we do not know where exactly. They are not at a resort or sea. They have a certain regime, regulated calls, a schedule. They are not being tortured like in Russia, but, nevertheless, they are not completely free." She said that while she was grateful for the deal that got Denys out of Russian captivity, she expressed hope that he would return to Ukraine soon.^[28]

Return to Ukraine

On 8 July 2023, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Azov commanders had been brought back to Ukraine from Turkey, posting a video of five Azov commanders boarding his plane, including Prokopenko.^[29] On 17 July, in a press release by Azov, Prokopenko announced he would resume his military service, and return to command of the Azov Brigade.^[30]

Return to Azov

On 4 August 2023, Prokopenko took part in tactical exercises of the personnel.^[31] On 23 August 2023, Azov's press service published a photo of "Redis" at the command post on the front line holding a flag on the occasion of a national holiday. Since August 2023, the Azov brigade under the command of Prokopenko has been performing combat missions in the Lyman direction in the area of the Serebryansky forest.^[32] In the first weeks, the unit managed to advance Ukrainian positions with minimal losses.^[33]

Family

Denys Prokopenko is a descendant of ethnic Karelians. Prokopenko today considers his fight to defend Ukraine against Russian imperialism from Moscow a personal matter, closely intertwined with his own family history:^[3]

"It feels like I continued the same war, only on another section of the front, a war against the occupation regime of the Kremlin. My grandfather had such a terrible hatred for communism, for Bolshevism, for the Sovok... Can you imagine what it's like to lose your family? I mean, all his brothers perished, his kinfolk...".

He is married to Kateryna Prokopenko.^[34]

Awards and Recognition

• The title Hero of Ukraine conferred with the distinction of the "Order of the Gold Star" (19 March 2022) – for personal courage and heroism shown in defense of the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, and fidelity to his military oath
• Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, III Class (24 August 2019) – for major personal contributions to strengthening the national defense capabilities of the Ukrainian nation, courage shown during hostilities, exemplary performance of official duties and high degree of professionalism
• Medal For Military Service to Ukraine (25 March 2015) – awarded to Junior Lieutenant Prokopenko for individual bravery and high degree of professionalism shown in defense of the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine^[35]

In October 2022, he was included in the list of the 25 most influential Ukrainian servicemen by NV.^[36] In November 2023, he was included in the list of leaders of Ukraine by UP-100.^[37]

Notes

1. Russian: Ре́дис, romanized: Rédis, IPA: [ˈrʲedʲɪs] (proper noun with stress on the first syllable—thus, contrary to some mistranslations, contrastive with реди́с, redís, 'radish', which is stressed on the final syllable)

References

1. "Azov Brigade commander meets with personnel, announces his return to service". Ukrinform. 16 July 2023. Archived from the original on 16 July 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
2. Tetyana Oliynuk (31 January 2024). "The future belongs to technology and infantry: Azov commander talks about the best weapons – video". Ukrainska Pravda. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
3. ""Ми досить міцні, щоб кров'ю і потом відвойовувати нашу землю…" – Герой України Денис Прокопенко" ["We are strong enough to reconquer our land, by blood and sweat…" - Hero of Ukraine Denis Prokopenko] (in Ukrainian). 23 March 2022. Archived from the original on 3 April 2022. Retrieved 9 April 2022. До речі, Денис — потомок етнічного карела, який чудом уцілів у Зимовій війні 1939-1940 рр., тому для нього захист України — справа особиста: «Таке відчуття, що я продовжив ту саму війну, але на іншій ділянці фронту, війну проти окупаційного режиму Кремля. У мого діда була така жахлива ненависть до комунізму, до більшовизму, до Совка… Уявляєш, що таке втратити свою родину? Тобто, всі його брати загинули, рідня…» [By the way, Denis is a descendant of an ethnic Karelian who miraculously survived the Winter War of 1939-1940, so for him the defense of Ukraine is a personal matter: "It feels like I continued the same war, only on another section of the front, a war against the occupation regime of the Kremlin. My grandfather had such a terrible hatred for communism, for Bolshevism, for the Sovok... Can you imagine what it's like to lose your family? I mean, all his brothers perished, his kinfolk..."]
4. "Змістовні переговори про мир і безпеку для України – єдиний шанс для Росії зменшити шкоду від власних помилок – звернення Президента Володимира Зеленського" [Meaningful talks on peace and security for Ukraine are the only chance for Russia to reduce the damage from its own mistakes - address by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy] (in Ukrainian). 19 March 2022. Archived from the original on 3 April 2022. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
5. "Указ Президента України №148/2022 — «Про присвоєння звання Герой України»" [Decree of the President of Ukraine №148 / 2022 - "On conferring the title of Hero of Ukraine"] (in Ukrainian). 19 March 2022. Archived from the original on 6 April 2022. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
6. "Интервью Редиса" [Redis Interview] (in Russian). 20 July 2016. Archived from the original on 6 April 2022. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
7. Iryna Kozyupa (8 July 2023). ""He traveled all over Ukraine for Dynamo." The hero of "Azovstal" Radis is an ultras and a big fan of sports" (in Ukrainian). UA.Tribuna.com. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
8. "Ультрас Динамо отримав звання "Героя України" - Футбол 24" [Ultras Dynamo received title "Hero of Ukraine" - Football 24] (in Ukrainian). 20 March 2022. Archived from the original on 4 April 2022. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
9. Golinkin, Lev (13 June 2023). "The Western Media Is Whitewashing the Azov Battalion". The Nation. Retrieved 3 July 2023. Prokopenko, for his part, came out of the White Boys Club, superfans of the Dynamo Kyiv soccer team (far-right groups organized around soccer teams are common across Europe), who celebrated him when he was given an award in October 2022. The group's Facebook posts have typically included phrases like "100% White" and "88" (code for "Heil Hitler"), praise for Holocaust perpetrators, and Waffen-SS insignia.
10. Vadym Koval (8 January 2024). "Denys "Redis" Prokipenko - Biongaphy" (in Ukrainian). Znaki. Retrieved 16 February 2024.
11. "Інтерв'ю Редіса" [Interview with Redis] (in Ukrainian). 20 July 2016. Archived from the original on 4 April 2022. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
12. Исак, Александр (22 June 2018). "Экскурсия в "Азов". Один день с украинским полком спецназначения". Радио Свобода (in Russian). Retrieved 12 June 2022.
13. Official appeal of Azov commander, the major Denis Prokopenko, to the world community. Національний Корпус. 7 March 2022. Archived from the original on 18 March 2022. Retrieved 4 April 2022 – via YouTube.
14. "Командир полку "Азов" закликає закрити небо над Україною" [Commander of the Azov Regiment calls for closing the skies over Ukraine] (in Ukrainian). 7 March 2022. Archived from the original on 3 April 2022. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
15. Росія ЗДІЙСНИЛА хімічну атаку по Маріуполю – є постраждалі серед цивільних і військових [Russia carried out a chemical attack on Mariupol - there are casualties among civilians and military]. Національний Корпус. 12 April 2022. Archived from the original on 13 April 2022. Retrieved 12 April 2022 – via YouTube.
16. Address by the Commander of the Azov Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Denis Prokopenko, to the world community. @Polk_Azov. 13 April 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2022 – via Twitter.
17. Nicole Winfield, Wives of Mariupol defenders to pope: 'You are our last hope' // The Washington Post, 11.5.2022.
18. Nick Squires, Azovstal wives beg Pope Francis to ‘talk to Putin and save our husbands’ // The Daily Telegraph. — 11.5.2022.
19. Wives of Mariupol defenders appeal for soldiers' evacuation // The Washington Post, 30.4.2022.
20. Wives of Mariupol defenders appeal for evacuation on YouTube // Associated Press, 30.4.2022.
21. Папа Римський зустрівся з дружинами бійців полку «Азов», заблокованих у Маріуполі // Радіо Свобода, 11.5.2022.
22. "Azovstal defenders appear to signal end of siege". The Jerusalem Post. 16 May 2022. Retrieved 15 May 2022.
23. "На "Азовстали" сдался командир батальона "Азов"". RBS (in Russian). 21 May 2022.
24. "Russian army takes control of Mariupol's Azovstal steel plant". the Guardian. 21 May 2022. Retrieved 21 May 2022.
25. Ukrainian soldiers captured at Azovstal plant in ‘satisfactory’ conditions
26. Ljunggren, David (22 September 2022). "Russia frees 215 Ukrainians held after Mariupol battle, Ukraine says". Reuters.
27. "Ukrainians celebrate prisoner swap as Russian nationalists fume". Financial Times. 22 September 2022.
28. "Leadership of Azov Brigade stays at closed security facility in Turkey - wife of Prokopenko". Ukrinform. 20 May 2023. Retrieved 8 July 2023.
29. "Ukraine's Zelenskyy brings home Azovstal commanders from Turkey". Al Jazeera. 8 July 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
30. "Azov Brigade commander meets with personnel, announces his return to service". Ukrinform. 16 July 2023. Retrieved 17 July 2023.
31. Olha Lipych (14 August 2023). "Denys Prokopenko Redis returned to service - photo from the Azov training" (in Ukrainian). OBOZ.UA. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
32. Maryna Lisnichuk (17 August 2023). "Azov returned to the front - where he will fight - the war in Ukraine" (in Ukrainian). OBOZ.UA. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
33. Natalia Kulyk (7 September 2023). "Return of the legend: Azov commander Denys Prokopenko once again directs operations at the front" (in Ukrainian). ICTV. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
34. "Anguish for partners of Mariupol's defenders as Russian assault goes on". the Guardian. 7 May 2022. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
35. "Указ Президента України № 176/2015 — «Про відзначення державними нагородами України військовослужбовців Національної гвардії України»" [Decree of the President of Ukraine № 176/2015 - "On the awarding of state awards of Ukraine to servicemen of the National Guard of Ukraine"] (in Ukrainian). 25 March 2015. Archived from the original on 6 April 2022. Retrieved 9 April 2022.
36. "Взвод № 1. НВ називає 25 найвпливовіших українських військових" (in Ukrainian). NV. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
37. "УП відзначила лідерів України в категорії "Захисники"" (in Ukrainian). Українська правда. Retrieved 12 February 2024.