Luzhevskyi Ruslan Mykhailovych 31 August 1975 – 5 May 2014

Luzhevskyi Ruslan Mykhailovych

Major

Ruslan Luzhevskyi was born on August 31, 1975 in the village of Voloshynivka, Baryshivskyi district, Kyiv region.

Major Luzhevskyi was an officer by vocation and a leader by nature. He dedicated 14 years of his life to service at the Center of Special Operations "A". He participated in peacekeeping operations in Iraq, in the special operation to free Ukrainian sailors from the captivity of Somali pirates, and in numerous arrests of armed criminals.

Ruslan was one of five best archers in Ukraine, was a master of shooting, hand-to-hand combat and performed more than 1,200 parachute jumps in his life.

He was sent to the east of Ukraine in early April 2014, when pro-Russian separatists under the leadership of Russian special services began seizure of state authorities in Luhansk.

On May 5, 2014, Major Luzhevskyi was sent on another combat mission - to provide a "green corridor" for a convoy of Ukrainian servicemen which were going to liberate Sloviansk from terrorists.

Near the village of Semenivka, the group was ambushed and shelled from three sides. Ruslan was twice wounded in the battle, but continued to fire at the enemy. He died on the battlefield.

For exceptional courage and heroism, Major Ruslan Luzhevskyi was awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine with the Order of Golden Star (posthumously) by Decree of the President of Ukraine of November 3, 2014.

A street in Kyiv and a course at the SSU National Academy are named after him.

Every year, Alpha employees hold a tactical shooting tournament in memory of Ruslan Luzhevskyi, the Hero of Ukraine.

In August 2017, in the native village of Ruslan in Kyiv region, the sports complex "Legend" was restored and named after him.

Ruslan is survived by his wife and two sons.