Gave their lives for freedom: which celebrities did Ukraine lose in the war with Russia and under what circumstances

Today, on October 1, Ukrainians celebrate the Day of Defenders of Ukraine and thank the soldiers for their brave fight. On this day, we also honor the memory of those who laid down their lives for the future of the country.

Russia's bloody war against the Ukrainian people has not spared anyone, including representatives of show business. Musicians, actors, comedians and singers left their usual roles and stood up to defend the state. OBOZ.UA pays tribute to the stars who died at the front.

Pavlo Li

Ukrainian actor Pavlo Li died on March 6, 2022. The 33-year-old actor joined volunteers and helped evacuate the residents of Irpin, delivering humanitarian aid when the city was occupied. On that fateful day, by coincidence, the actor and his volunteers Taras Melnyk and Iryna Migitko were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Their car came under fire from the Russian military. Pavel Lee received injuries incompatible with life.

Yaroslav Halavko

Ukrainian comedian, participant of the show "League of Laughter" Yaroslav Halavko, who stood up for the state shortly after the full-scale invasion. The terrible news became known on December 8, 2022. Halavko died in battle with the occupiers a few days before his 27th birthday.

Oleksiy Khilsky

Ukrainian actor and star of the TV series "Serf" Oleksiy Khilsky died in a battle in the Zaporizhzhia sector at the end of August 2023. The celebrity was the chief sergeant of a reconnaissance company, fought as part of the 46th separate airborne brigade of the Air Assault Forces and was the chief sergeant of a reconnaissance platoon. Khilsky was called one of the most experienced soldiers of the elite unit - he participated in the offensive in Kherson region, in the battles for Bakhmut and Soledar. Even his injuries did not stop the actor, as the Hero immediately returned to the front line. Khilsky was 35 years old when he died.

Yevhen Svitlychny

Ukrainian actor Yevhen Svitlychny, known in particular for the Oleg Sentsov crime drama Rhino, died on July 19, 2023, in a heavy firefight while performing a combat mission in the Kharkiv sector. Away from the front, the Hero was a master of sports and a Ukrainian free-fight champion. He fought as part of the first separate assault company of the Da Vinci Wolves. He was only 29 years old.

Philip Winner

Philip Winner, an actor of the Honest Theater, a former member of Kyiv's Zhyvyi Theater and the KNUKiM Drama Theater, died on his 32nd birthday, July 9, 2023. The artist served in the 26th separate rifle battalion, which visited the hottest spots in the Donetsk sector. Winner recorded videos while on the line of fire, reciting poems by prominent Ukrainian poets. The actor's last such video was dedicated to Vasyl Symonenko's poem "There are weekdays and holidays in love".

Serhiy Shkvarchenko

Honored Artist of Ukraine, member of the P. Virsky Ensemble Serhiy Shkvarchenko passed away on December 19, 2023. During an enemy mortar attack, the Hero received injuries incompatible with life.

Roman Ivanenko

Roman Ivanenko, a member of the League of Laughter, actor and comedian, died in Russian captivity on February 28, 2023. Having seen a full-scale war in Germany, the star returned home and volunteered. In January 2023, Ivanenko was wounded in a heavy battle. The actor was taken prisoner by the occupiers, where he received no help for two months. He was 28 years old.

Yevhen Shumilov

Ukrainian theater and film actor Yevhen Shumilov died at the front on April 30, 2024. The actor sacrificed his life defending his wounded comrade-in-arms. The soldier joined the Armed Forces in 2022. Ukrainians knew him from Nova Poshta advertisements - posters with Shumilov's face still adorn the walls of post offices.

Ihor Voronka

Ihor Voronka, Honored Artist of Ukraine, leading artist of the Dumka National Academic Chapel, opera singer and actor, died at the front on July 6, 2024. Three days before his death, the soldier celebrated his 49th birthday. Voronka joined the Armed Forces at the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion.

Oleksiy Serdyuk

Oleksiy Serdyuk, an artist of the Kyiv Academic Theater of Ukrainian Folklore "Berehynia", was killed during a combat mission on August 24, 2024. The defender's life ended at the age of 41. According to the Hero's colleagues, he was "in one of the fiercest points of the 'theater of war'."

Earlier, OBOZ.UA wrote that comedian Serhiy Chirkov of the Underground Standup had mobilized in the Armed Forces of Ukraine: he spent his childhood in Russia.

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