Ruslan HORBATENKO

Ruslan was born in the city of Svitlovodsk, Kirovohrad region. In 1990, he graduated from a vocational school in Kremenchuk, and later moved to the village of Bohdanivka. He began his career on the railway in 2003 as a trackman in the Znamianka track section.

Colleagues, friends, and fellow villagers remember Ruslan as an honest, open, fair, and decent person. He was always ready to help others and earned deep respect and unquestionable authority in the team for his responsible attitude towards work.
In 2018, Ruslan made a conscious choice—he signed a contract and took up the defense of his homeland. He remained faithful to his military oath until his last breath, bravely fulfilling his duty to protect the freedom and independence of Ukraine.

Ruslan, a trackman, was officially recognized as deceased on December 9, 2025. His life was cut short while carrying out a combat mission on June 12, 2024, in the area of the settlement of Pishchane in the Kupiansk district of Kharkiv region. For a long time after the direct encounter with the enemy, he was considered missing in action.

Ruslan is survived by his wife and two children. He was a loving husband, a caring, and very kind father.

The team of the Znamianka track section of JSC "Ukrzaliznytsia" bows their heads with indescribable pain and deep respect for Ruslan. His justice, dedication, and great sacrifice will forever be etched in the memory of our team. Eternal memory and honor to the Hero!