Senior Sergeant Vitalii Butenko, callsign "Lyutyi" (Лютий), was killed in action on September 18, 2025, while executing a special operation near the village of Varachyne in Sumy Oblast. He was 44 years old.
Civilian Life & Expertise:
Origins: Born on July 17, 1981, in Marinka, Donetsk Oblast. He graduated from Marinka Secondary School No. 1 and learned electric welding at a vocational school in Donetsk.
Higher Education: He went on to earn two higher education degrees: mechanical engineering from Donetsk National Technical University and law from the Donetsk Law Institute.
Career: Worked as a forwarder for "Olimp," production manager at "Toyota," and maintenance department manager at "Ukravto" in Donetsk.
Personal Passions: A multi-talented individual, Vitalii enjoyed professional fishing, horticulture (growing fruits and avocadoes), building houses, collecting antiques, vehicle mechanics, and cooking.
Military Service & Combat Path:
2014 Enlistment: At the onset of the Russian aggression in 2014, Vitalii and his wife voluntarily joined the defense of Ukraine, beginning service in the "Artemivsk" Special Task Patrol Battalion under the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
Full-Scale Invasion: Defended Irpin and Kyiv with the 93rd Separate Battalion of the Military Law Enforcement Service. Later transferred to the 4th Regiment of the Special Operations Forces "Ranger" (4-й полк ССО «Рейнджер»).
Deployments: Fought in the most intense frontline sectors, including Bakhmut, Sloviansk, Lyman, Mariupol, as well as operational zones in Luhansk, Sumy, and Kursk oblasts.
"Vitalii loved speed and freedom. He could easily switch from a motorcycle to a boat, from a boat to a Mercedes, and from a Mercedes to an APC. He was a person who knew how to do everything... He never liked to talk about his talents or his many awards. He always said: 'That is not important. What matters is finishing the war. Winning. And seeing no more death,'" recalled his sister, Larysa Yehorova.
Decorations & Burial:
For his courage and service, Senior Sergeant Vitalii Butenko was awarded multiple honors, including the "Iron Cross" (Залізний хрест) medal and the "For Courage and Bravery" (За мужність та відвагу) distinction.
He was laid to rest at the Berkovetskyi Cemetery in Kyiv.
At 9:00 AM — the national minute of silence. The Donetsk Regional Military Administration and the "Heroes Memorial" platform honor the fallen defenders from Donetsk Oblast.