Staff Sergeant Bohdan Khokhlenkov, call sign “Pentagon”, died on March 28, 2022, in a hospital in Dnipro.
Six days earlier, he had sustained severe gunshot wounds in the battle for his native Mariupol. He was evacuated from the Azovstal plant by helicopter as critically wounded, but the defender’s heart could not withstand it. On April 8, he would have turned 30.
Bohdan was born and lived his entire life in Mariupol. He received higher education at the Pryazovskyi State Technical University. He was a football fan and a participant in the Mariupol fan project “32”.
Since 2015, he had served in the Azov Regiment, which later became part of the National Guard of Ukraine. He took part in the Anti-Terrorist Operation/Joint Forces Operation. During the full-scale war, he served as an instructor (combat diver-scout) in the reconnaissance platoon and as a squad commander.
Over the course of his service, Bohdan was awarded distinctions including: “For Participation in the Anti-Terrorist Operation”, “For Valiant Service”, “For Exemplary Military Service” III Class, “Cossack Cross” III Class, the Order “For Courage” III Class, and the Order “For Courage” II Class (posthumously).
“Bohdan was completely devoted to service and to Ukraine. In his youth, it was the fan movement, the Civil Corps, and later his service in Azov. During the battles for Mariupol, he was among the first to rush into the fight, serving as a commander,” his wife said.
The Hero was laid to rest at Krasnopil Cemetery in the city of Dnipro.
Bohdan is survived by his wife Marianna, his daughter Afina, and his parents.
At 9:00 — a nationwide moment of silence. The Donetsk Regional Military Administration and the Heroes Memorial platform honor the fallen defenders from Donetsk region.