In Rivne region, families of border guards who fought for Ukraine were presented with state awards
For personal courage and selfless actions in defense of the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, loyalty to the military oath by the Decree of the President of Ukraine was awarded the Orders “For Courage” of the 3rd degree (posthumously) of Master Sergeant Artem Oleksandrovych Gurtovy, Master Sergeant Sumarokov Anatoly Vladimirovich and Junior Sergeant Gripych Yuri Mikhailovich.
The award ceremony took place today at the Rivne Regional Military Administration and at the place of residence of the relatives of one of the soldiers.
Artem Alexandrovich Gurtovyi is from Luhansk region. He served in the border department since 2019, served in one of the border guard units of the Luhansk border detachment. Artem and his brothers met the Russian invasion of Ukraine carrying out tasks to protect the state borders of Ukraine. In the first battles, the border guards gave a decent repulse to the enemy on the outskirts of the city of Starobilsk, Luhansk region. Being under intense enemy fire from mortars of various calibers and tanks, the defenders courageously and heroically held back the advance of the overwhelming forces of the enemy near Kreminna, Rubezhnyy Lugansk and Liman in Donetsk region. In order to ensure an uninterrupted and stable management system, Artem, being a liaison officer, repeatedly, risking his own life, moved between positions under fire to ensure and establish communication.
On May 10, 2022, as a result of an enemy rocket-bomb attack on the unit's location in the area of Topolivka, in Luhansk region, Chief Sergeant Artem Hurtovyi was killed.
Anatoly Vladimirovich Sumarokov is from Luhansk region. During the period of military service in the department, he proved himself to be an experienced, honest and decent soldier. He always performed official duties and specified tasks at a high professional level, ensured the high-quality performance of combat tasks for the protection and defense of the state border in the east of Ukraine. On the morning of February 24, 2022, Anatoly, like thousands of other border guards, courageously met the enemy army of the Russian Federation. Together with the servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, he performed combat tasks in the defense of the Kreminna and Rubezhny Luhansk regions and nearby settlements. On May 31, 2022, the enemy carried out an air strike on the positions of Ukrainian defenders, as a result of which the chief sergeant Anatoly Sumarokov was wounded, carrying out an airstrike compatible with life.
Yuri Mikhailovich Gripych comes from Rivne region. In the State Border Guard Service since May 2022. Defending the state was the conscious decision of a real man and a conscious citizen. In the area of active hostilities, Yuriy performed military duty with honor and dignity. On October 30, 2022, the enemy shelled positions of Ukrainian border guards in the area of Volodymyrivka, Donetsk region. The enemy fired from rocket systems of volley fire, large-caliber barrel artillery, mortars and automatic grenade launchers. During the battle, Yuri noticed the approach of the enemy. The defender carried out fire damage to the life force of the occupiers and cover the brethren, who had just moved to the reserve positions. The invaders suffered heavy losses and tried to retreat. The unit advanced to the place of concentration of the enemy and, not allowing it to retreat, destroyed the invaders. As a result of the clash, one infantry fighting vehicle was destroyed, another damaged, twenty servicemen of the Russian Federation were eliminated, one soldier with a radio station was captured. Unfortunately, as a result of a melee with the enemy, junior sergeant Yuriy Gripych died. The memory of the border guards was honored with a minute of silence.
The war continues and unfortunately takes away the best sons of Ukraine. All the guys are real heroes! Each of them performed a feat — after all, he fought for victory.
State Border Guard Service of Ukraine
