Infantryman who held position in Chasiv Yar for 346 days awarded Hero of Ukraine title – photos

Infantryman Serhii Krynitskyi from the 24th Separate Mechanised Brigade named after King Danylo, who spent 346 days holding a position in Chasiv Yar without rotation, has been awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine.

Source: 24th Separate Mechanised Brigade named after King Danylo on Facebook

Quote from the brigade: "346 days at a position. Twenty-three occupiers killed. Six taken prisoner.

This is the story of Serhii 'Sieronka' Krynitskyi, an infantryman from the 2nd Mechanised Battalion of the 24th Separate Mechanised Brigade named after King Danylo, who has been awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine."

Details: The brigade said the soldier defended one of the frontline positions in Chasiv Yar.

During one assault, nine Russian soldiers approached his position. He killed two of them at close range. Together with his comrades, he killed the remaining seven.

Quote from Krynitskyi: "At first, I stacked the bodies of the Russians near the position. Then there were too many, so I started burying them lightly. So the enemy wouldn't figure out where I was positioned from the concentration of their dead."

Details: The brigade added that rotation had long been almost impossible because approaches to the position were blocked by Russian drones. However, abandoning the position was not an option because the stability of neighbouring defensive lines depended on it.

During his time at the position, Krynitskyi led the repulsion of at least six assaults by numerically superior Russian forces without allowing a breakthrough in the sector.

He was evacuated from the position during favourable weather conditions, when continuing to hold it no longer made tactical sense. Before leaving, he destroyed everything so that the shelter would not fall into Russian hands.

The soldier is currently undergoing treatment.

After rehabilitation, he plans to return to service and share his experience with troops arriving at the frontline.

Following his withdrawal from the position, he received the presidential award For the Defence of Ukraine and the brigade's first distinction, the Commemorative Badge of the Military Unit numbered 001.

Under decree No. 362/2026 dated 5 May 2026, senior soldier Serhii Krynytskyi was awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine and presented with the Order of the Golden Star.

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