Petro Bezpalko (10.25.1980 -29.05.2014)

He was born in Potochysche village of Horodenkivskyi district, Ivano-Frankivsk region. Later his parents and he moved to Ivano-Frankivsk.

In 1987 he became a first-year pupil of School 21 where he studied for 5 years. Since 1992 he studied at the Boarding School 1 of Ivano-Frankivsk. And after graduating the 11th Form he entered the Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University, the Faculty of Law.

During 1998-2000 he served the Interior Troops of Ukraine, in Kiev, where he was promoted to the reserve sergeant. Since 2001 he joined the special police force “Berkut”.

In 2005-2006 Petro Bezpalko was a soldier of Ukrainian Special peacekeeping subdivision of MIA on the international police forces of the UNO Mission for the Autonomous Province of Kosovo. At that time he was awarded with the medal “For Peace Actions”. In 2011 he graduated from the National Academy of Internal Affairs. Subsequently, he was appointed the deputy commander of the platoon of special police force “Berkut” of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine in Ivano-Frankivsk region.

On May 29, 2014 he was in the helicopter that returned from its positions in Mount Karachun (Slovyansk city) after unloading food and rotation of personnel in the 5th checkpoint. The helicopter was shot and put out of action; 12 people were killed: 6 – members of the National Guard of Ukraine, 2 crew members and 6  of the Special Forces of MIA of Ukraine.

He left his wife and two small children. He was buried in Ivano-Frankivsk Memorial Cemetery.

On June 20, 2014 Petro Bezpalko was awarded with the Order For courage of the First degree (posthumously) - for his courage and heroism, protection of State Sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, loyalty to the military oath during the Russian-Ukrainian War.