Participant of the Regional Competition "Young Person of the Year – 2025" in the Nomination "Rescuer of the Year" Serhiy Harkusha
Serhiy Harkusha is a firefighter-rescuer of the 41st State Fire and Rescue Unit of the 12th State Detachment of the Main Directorate of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in the Donetsk region. He is a person who, in 2011, swore an oath to the cause of saving human lives, and for more than ten years, he has proven this not with words but with deeds.
When the full-scale war began in Ukraine, many were faced with a choice: to go to a safe place or to stay home to help others. Serhiy did not hesitate. He remained in his native city of Kostiantynivka, which became a target for enemy attacks from the first weeks of the war. The city, which stands on the frontline, is shelled almost daily, suffering from fires and destruction. And it is here that the rescuer goes on duty every day—not for show, but to save real human lives.
His unit is a small team that works at the limit of its physical and psychological capabilities. They are the first to arrive at the scene of tragedies where rockets have just fallen, shells have exploded, or a fire has started. With no right to fear, they act in a coordinated and precise manner, as one whole. And in this "whole," Serhiy Harkusha is an example of courage and resilience.
He has participated in the aftermath of dozens of shellings. Among them are several that became true professional and personal tests. One of the most difficult challenges was extinguishing a fire in an EKO-market after a rocket attack from a multiple launch rocket system. The burning building, full of smoke and dangerous materials, could have become a shared grave for all who dared to enter. But Serhiy went in without hesitation. Together with his colleagues, he worked in critical conditions, taming the flames that spread with incredible speed. His determination, resilience, and precision became the key to successfully extinguishing the fire and saving neighboring buildings.
Another case was extinguishing a fire at the Kostiantynivka railway station, which also became an enemy target. Serhiy worked among debris and red-hot metal structures. His task was not only to extinguish the fire but also to search for possible injured people. The fire threatened to spread to neighboring buildings, but the determination and coordinated work of the unit saved the situation.
But the most terrible events, as Serhiy himself admits, are related to the "Chervonyi" private sector, which came under cluster munition shelling. It was a real hell: destroyed houses, wounded and dead residents, and fires that engulfed several streets at once. Serhiy, despite the threat of unexploded ordnance, worked in the very center of the danger. He helped clear debris, searched for people, extinguished flames, and, at the same time, provided moral support to the victims.
During his service, Serhiy has repeatedly received state and departmental awards. The medals "For the Defense of Ukraine," "For Participation in the Anti-Terrorist Operation," the "For Valor in Service" badge, and the State Emergency Service Cross "For Valor in an Emergency" are a recognition of many years of daily work that saves lives.
However, Serhiy is not just a professional. He is also a sincere person for whom someone else's pain is always a personal challenge. He does not seek fame or publicity. He just does his job.
In a time when Ukraine is going through terrible trials, it is especially important to remember and honor those who hold it on their shoulders. Soldiers on the front line, medics in hospitals, volunteers in the rear—and, of course, rescuers who risk their lives every day for our safety. Serhiy Harkusha is one of them. A young, strong, confident, and dedicated firefighter who is not afraid of the flames because his heart burns with love for people and his Homeland.