August 7, 2026 — exactly three years and a few months after the tragedy in Yelenivka, which claimed the lives of hundreds of Ukrainian prisoners of war. For many families, the war ended with the last message from a loved one, but for Natalia Petrenko, it never ended. Today, she is not just the mother of a Hero, but also the founder of the "Bashta" platform, which helps veterans find medical, legal, and social support. In an exclusive interview with RBK-Ukraine, Natalia spoke about her son, how his service in "Azov" changed him, and why his last words, "Do the work," became the main principle of her life.

An ordinary guy who became a defender

Sergey Petrenko, known in "Azov" by the callsign "Bashta" (Tower), was an ordinary guy before the war. He loved playing football, supported Kyiv's "Dynamo," went to matches with friends, and sometimes skipped school. "He was a ray of sunshine," Natalia recalls. "In public, he was reserved, but at home — open, cheerful, and enjoyed life like everyone else." But as early as 2017, Sergey made a decision that changed his life and the life of his entire family. He signed a contract with "Azov" and began serving to protect the country in the event of a major war.

"He said: 'Mom, when the Russians come to take our home, there must be someone who knows how to protect us,'" Natalia recounts. "It was after these words that I realized: standing before me was no longer a boy whom I could talk out of it or force to change his mind."

Son's last words: "Do the work"

In Mariupol, during the siege of "Azovstal," Sergey wrote his last words to his mother: "Do the work." These words became for Natalia not just a farewell, but a call to action. After her son's death in Yelenivka, she could not just carry on living. She understood that she had to continue her son's work — protecting those who protected Ukraine.

"My son's last words became the main principle of my life," Natalia says. "I couldn't just sit and wait. I had to do something, help those who need support."

The "Bashta" platform: from personal tragedy to public mission

After her son's death, Natalia founded the "Bashta" platform, which helps veterans find medical, legal, and social support. "I realized that a person wants to leave the service, but is left alone with the question: what to do next? There was no support, no information, no career counseling. No one explained how to adapt after service," Natalia explains.

Today, the "Bashta" platform helps hundreds of veterans find jobs, receive medical care, and obtain legal support. "Almost 80-90% of the veterans I meet now do not want to return to the profession they had before the war. Over the years of service, values change, worldviews change. A person no longer sees the point in what they used to do. And this will be one of the biggest challenges for our society," she adds.

Contradictory data

Some sources indicate that Sergey Petrenko died in Yelenivka in 2023, while other sources report his death in 2024. There are also discrepancies regarding the founding date of the "Bashta" platform — some sources cite 2023, others 2024. These contradictions require further clarification.

The war continues

For Natalia Petrenko, the war did not end after her son's death. It continues as long as there are no answers, and preserving memory becomes a life's work. "More than three years after the Yelenivka tragedy, relatives of prisoners of war continue to live between memory and the fight for truth. For them, the war did not end after the last message from a loved one. It continues as long as there are no answers, and preserving memory becomes a life's work," Natalia says.

The "Bashta" platform is not just help for veterans. It is the continuation of her son's work, which Natalia Petrenko carries out with honor and dignity. "Do the work" — these words became not just a farewell, but a call to action for everyone who wants to help those who protected Ukraine.