Born on September 8, 1990 in the village of Kochetok, Chuguiv district, Kharkiv region. After graduating from the 9th grade of Kochetok secondary school, Denis entered the Chuguiv Agrarian Lyceum and graduated in 2008, having obtained the profession of tractor driver; driver of motor vehicles (category "B-C").
In October 2008, he signed a contract for military service with the command of the 92nd separate mechanized brigade. He served as a senior sound level meter operator. While serving under the contract, he studied at the Private Higher Educational Institution «Kharkiv Institute of Management Personnel». Upon graduation in 2011, he received a specialty in «Maintenance and Repair of Automobiles and Engines» and obtained the qualification of a mechanic technician.
After being discharged from military service in 2010, Denis worked in the civilian sector for fourteen years as a driver, a car repair mechanic, and in the construction industry.
With the beginning of the full-scale war of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, he repeatedly appealed to the RTCC and SP with a request to be drafted into the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and only in February 2025 did the Kupyansky RTCC and SP grant his request. Denys was mobilized and sent on February 25, 2025 to the 71st Separate Jaeger Brigade (military unit A4030).
During April 2025, he underwent training under the Basic Combined Arms Training Program at the 199th Training Center. After returning from training, Denys was appointed to the position of Deputy Commander of the 8th Special Purpose Reconnaissance Group of the 17th Special Purpose Company of the Special Purpose Detachment of the Brigade.
During his short but intense combat career, Denis repeatedly led a group during combat missions in specific conditions that required a high level of training. In June 2025, Denis received a state award: the "War Veteran" breastplate.
Circumstances of death:
On September 24, 2025, a reconnaissance group under the command of Denis Bodnaryuk was carrying out a combat mission in the area of the settlement of Toretske, Pokrovsky district, Donetsk region. Already in the morning of that day, the reconnaissance group recorded and captured two occupiers who were in one of the enemy dugouts disguised as a landing. After waiting for their comrades from the unit dealing with prisoners of war and handing them over the captured occupiers, the group continued to carry out the combat mission. But it so happened that in the evening the enemy was able to record the location of the special group led by Denis and dropped grenades directly from the sky on it. The group suffered losses: only one fighter remained alive under the call sign "Bandit", who was able to send his seriously wounded commander to the brigade's location. He even managed to inform Denis's father about this by phone. Unfortunately, Denys Bodnaryuk received a life-threatening injury (injuries from explosions and shrapnel).
The funeral service for the fallen defender took place on October 6, 2025 at the cemetery in the village of Kochetok. During the farewell to Denis, words of deep gratitude for his devotion to the Motherland, sincere prayers, and sorrow for the lost life, which became a symbol of love for Ukraine, were heard.
The deceased defender is survived by his son Anton, born in 2012, his father, brother, sister, grandmother, and uncle.
26.03.2026 в Чугуївській громаді відбулася передача державної нагороди — ордена «За мужність» III ступеня — батькові полеглого воїна Боднарюка Дениса Володимировича. Нагороду, якою Президент України посмертно відзначив мужність і героїзм солдата, вручили його батьку під час урочистої церемонії. Ця нагорода — визнання відваги Дениса, який до останнього подиху виконував бойові завдання, захищаючи Україну.
УКАЗ ПРЕЗИДЕНТА УКРАЇНИ №882/2025
About honoring with state awards of Ukraine
For personal courage shown in defending the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, selfless performance of military duty I decide:
Нагородити орденом «За мужність» ІІІ ступеня
БОДНАРЮКА Дениса Володимировича (посмертно) — солдата
Президент України В. ЗЕЛЕНСЬКИЙ
04 грудня 2025року
