After more than four years in uniform, the former tennis star is preparing for a very different challenge that began before his military career.
Former Ukrainian No. 1 tennis player Serhii Stakhovskyi has been demobilized into the reserve from the ranks of the “Alpha” Special Operations Center. He ended more than four years of service for personal reasons.
As reported by the online media outlet Ukrinform.
Yesterday, September 10, the commander signed the order for my demobilization into the reserve.
– Serhii Stakhovskyi
Stakhovskyi said that over the past two and a half years, he had officially worked in “Alpha” in various areas. He joined the service on a voluntary basis at the very beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
After his demobilization, the former tennis player plans to focus on developing his own winery, “Stakhovskyi Wines,” whose vineyards are located in Zakarpattia.
The winery is currently going through a difficult period, so one of the reasons for my demobilization is that I cannot devote more attention to it. It is impossible to serve and develop your own business at the same time. That would be wrong.
– Serhii Stakhovskyi
What Serhii Stakhovskyi did while serving in the “Alpha” Special Operations Center
According to Stakhovskyi, during his service he worked in various areas and went through every level of the unit. In particular, he assembled warheads for FPV drones, worked in an engineering group responsible for manufacturing and loading warheads, and also served for nearly two years in a unit that carried out strikes deep inside enemy territory.
In addition, Stakhovskyi was part of a team that equipped drones operated by other pilots. He also has experience launching unmanned aerial vehicles over considerable distances into Russian territory.
Among the operations in which the former tennis player took part, he mentioned strikes on Russian oil refineries, the Kapustin Yar missile test site, and a depot storing ammunition for Grad and Iskander systems in Toropets.
After completing his service, Serhii Stakhovskyi intends to devote more time to his winery business and its further development.