Vitalii Petrenko was born on May 27, 1970 in Kyiv city.

After graduating from the National Law Academy of Ukraine named after Yaroslav the Wise, he began his career in the SSU. During 27 years of service in the Security Service of Ukraine, he held positions from investigator to deputy head of the SSU regional offices in Kyiv, Zakarpattia, Poltava and Rivne regions.

In the summer of 2014, Vitalii requested to be sent to the ATO area. His first secondment was short as Colonel Petrenko was appointed deputy head of the SSU Office in Rivne region and was sent to take up his post. However, from the end of January 2015, until his death in July 2016, Colonel Petrenko spent the majority of his time serving in the east. He was one of the leaders of the consolidated mobile groups countering illegal movement of goods across the line of contact.

Colonel Petrenko died on July 13, 2016, while performing official duties.

Vitalii Petrenko was awarded the Order "For Courage" of III degree (posthumously) by Decree of the President of Ukraine No. 339/2016 of August 22, 2016.

Vitalii is survived by his wife and son.