Participant in the regional competition “Young Person of the Year – 2026” in the “Guardian of Resilience” category Artem Parkhomenko
Every dawn in the Donetsk region today is a challenge. While the enemy is relentlessly trying to plunge the region into darkness, Artem Parkhomenko brings light back to people day after day. On his own, without fanfare or unnecessary grandstanding.
Starting out as an ordinary electrician after technical school, Artem quickly rose to the rank of foreman thanks to his dedication to his work. But the full-scale invasion turned his civilian job into a true front line. For his crew, danger became a daily routine: the men had to survive cluster munition attacks, take cover from the shock waves of aerial bombs, and work just a few steps away from unexploded ordnance.
Every trip to a damaged site is a gamble with fate. Yet every time a deathly silence settles over the transformer sites after shelling, Artem puts on his body armor again and gets to work. He isn’t just repairing power lines—he’s restoring civilians’ connection to their loved ones, as well as heat and a sense of normal life.
For Artem, his youth has become a source of strength and a willingness to take on responsibility during the most difficult times. His greatest reward is not corporate honors, but the quiet gratitude of the people and the sincere lights that once again shine in the windows of Ukrainian homes.