Roman Babenko, a participant in the regional “Young Person of the Year – 2026” contest in the “Heart of Victory” category
Roman Babenko was born in 1995 in the village of Zakharivka, Donetsk Oblast. From childhood, he combined an interest in technology with creativity. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Applied Mechanics from the Priazovsk State Technical University in Mariupol, and at the same time successfully graduated from the Mariupol School of Arts.
In 2018, he completed his mandatory military service. After a year of working in his field in manufacturing, he decided to dedicate his life to the military and signed a contract with the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
He faced the full-scale invasion in the Mariupol region. He later carried out missions in other areas of Donetsk Oblast, and during the 2023 counteroffensive, he ensured communications in the Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk sectors. The effective command of units on the front lines depended directly on the uninterrupted operation of his communications unit.
In 2024, during a rotation in the Kharkiv region, Roman led a communications platoon. Thanks to his professionalism and systematic work with his personnel, he was appointed chief of communications and cybersecurity for a mechanized battalion in 2026.
For his dedicated service, the officer was awarded the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine’s honorary “Golden Cross” and the Ministry of Defense’s “For Service and Valor” Medal, 3rd Class.
Today, Roman continues to be responsible for the battalion’s secure communication systems. Despite his heavy workload, he finds time for creative pursuits, which help him maintain inner balance amid the challenging conditions of war.