Serhiy Kokurin

Serhiy Viktorovych Kokurin (Ukrainian: Сергій Вікторович Кокурін; January 1, 1978 – March 18, 2014) was a Ukrainian soldier who was shot dead during the assault on the Ukrainian military base in Simferopol. He was the first soldier killed by shooting during the 2014 Crimean crisis.

Biography

Serhiy Kokurin was born on January 1, 1978 in Simferopol, Crimean Oblast (Ukrainian SSR). On December 28, 1997 he pledged his allegiance to the Ukrainian people. During his military service Kokurin went from private to the chief of the unit logistics service.

On March 18, Kokurin stationed on watch, was shot dead by unknown sniper. Also at the same time Ruslan Cossackov from Crimean self-defence forces was shot dead probably by the same sniper. Ukrainian government insists that the sniper - soldier of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.

Kokurin was survived by his wife, son and unborn child.