Participant of the regional contest "Young Person of the Year – 2025" in the nomination "Unbroken: The Strength of Spirit and Valor of the Donetsk Region" Serhii Yarovyi
Serhii Yarovyi was born in Donetsk in 1998. He spent his childhood and youth in the village of Konkove. In 2015, due to the occupation, he and his family moved to the village of Novokrasnivka, where he finished school.
In 2016, Serhii enrolled at Mariupol State University. Throughout his student years, he was very active in public and scientific life: he headed the student government, won the "Student Republic" contest, and was named "Best Student of the Donetsk Region." He also had scientific publications on ecology and founded the public organization "Youth Guard." In 2019, he visited the USA as part of an exchange delegation.
After the start of the full-scale invasion, on February 25, 2022, Serhii joined the National Guard of Ukraine. He participated in the battles for Mariupol, particularly on the territory of the Azovstal plant, where he suffered a concussion and numerous burns during an enemy shelling. After a month of recovery, he returned to perform combat missions.
On May 18, 2022, Serhii was taken prisoner, where he remained for two years and five months. In captivity, he endured torture and brutal treatment but did not break. He drew strength from the support of his brothers-in-arms, thoughts of his family, and his faith in freedom. To cope, he wrote poetry, which he preserved in his memory.
On October 18, 2024, Serhii Yarovyi returned from captivity. After his release, he underwent rehabilitation and simultaneously participated in events aimed at highlighting the issues of military captivity. He was reinstated in his position at Mariupol State University and became a member of the youth council at the Nikolske settlement council.
Serhii is gradually restoring his physical and mental strength. Despite what he has been through, he maintains his faith in people and dreams of returning to active public life, implementing educational and veteran projects, and supporting those who are still waiting for their loved ones to return from captivity. His story is an example of resilience and strength of spirit.