Today, Denys “Redis” Prokopenko took command of the Azov Military Group. Here are a few things about him that many people don’t know: • He has Karelian roots. His grandfather fought on the Finnish side during the Winter War and lost many relatives because of russia. He instilled in his grandson a hatred of russia, and Denys would later say that he was continuing his grandfather’s work; • He lost his father when he was eight; • Football and martial arts were a big part of his childhood. He was a devoted ultras supporter of Dynamo Kyiv, where he earned the nickname “Redis”; • He studied linguistics, taught English, and later graduated from Ukraine’s National Defense University; • On July 11, 2014, he joined Azov as a grenade launcher operator. Maryinka, Ilovaisk, Shyrokyne; • By 2015, he was already commanding a company; • At 26, he became the youngest regiment commander in the history of Ukraine’s National Guard and Armed Forces; • In 2019, while receiving the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, 3rd Class, he caused a media stir by refusing to salute the president. He later explained that military personnel do not salute civilians; • On March 19, 2022, while Mariupol was under heavy fire, he was awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine; • 86 days defending Mariupol and Azovstal. Then captivity. Turkey. And finally, back to the front; • His wife, Kateryna, traveled to meet Pope Francis to appeal for the rescue of the Azovstal defenders and later founded an association representing the families of Ukrainian defenders. At 26 — a regiment commander. At 35 — a brigadier general and commander of a military grouping. From the Dynamo stands to a corps. And this is not the end. Good luck, General. Bring your soldiers home.