“For nearly two years, my unit has been among the Special Operations Center teams carrying out long-range strike missions against targets deep inside enemy territory,” says Serhii Stakhovskyi, a Ukrainian tennis legend who now serves as a Master Sergeant with the Security Service of Ukraine’s Special Operations Center “A.”
In January 2022, Stakhovskyi brought his singles tennis career to a close. He had planned to continue competing in doubles for another year while further developing his winemaking business, but Russia’s full-scale invasion changed the course of his life. In February, he joined the Holosiiv Territorial Defense unit, later volunteered in support of the war effort, served with the National Guard of Ukraine, and ultimately joined the SBU’s elite Alpha special operations unit, where he continues to serve today.
In this interview marking the 32nd anniversary of the SBU Special Operations Center “A,” Stakhovskyi reflects on his military service, the missions he performs today, Alpha’s operations in Bakhmut and Russia’s Kursk region, his participation in prisoner exchanges, and his views on sport, family, and life after the war.
“ALPHA” DRIVES DRONE INNOVATION
Ukrinform (UI): Serhii, in January 2022 you ended your tennis career, and on February 12 you joined the Holosiiv Territorial Defense unit—even before the full-scale invasion began. What motivated you?
