Will always be remembered as heroes: 5 Ukrainian actors who died in the war with Russia in 2024

As Ukraine celebrates the arrival of the New Year 2025, it keeps in mind the memories of those who gave their lives for the future of the nation. Many Ukrainians have changed their usual profession, taking up arms to defend the country's independence.

In particular, the thirst for justice and a sense of duty did not pass by famous theater and film actors. OBOZ.UA honors the memory of the Heroes who died in 2024.

Andriy Kasyanov

Andriy Kasyanov, an actor at the Dnipro National Theater, exchanged the stage for the front. The 27-year-old soldier laid down his life in August 2024. Colleagues remember the actor as a talented and sincere person, a brave defender of the state who died so that others could live.

"We remember you as a man of strong spirit and unconquerable spirit. You gave your life for the sake of our peaceful future in a free and independent Ukraine! May you rest in peace! Heroes do not die! They are forever in our hearts!" the theater team wrote.

Volodymyr Kucherenko

In early December 2024, it became known that Volodymyr Kucherenko, the financial director of the Center for Content Analysis and an actor at the Kyiv Toteatr theater, was killed during a combat mission. A graduate of Misha Kostrov Studio of Acting, he joined the army on the first day of Russia's full-scale war, February 24, 2022.

"Father, entrepreneur, supporter of the idea and practice of socially responsible business, democracy, and civil society. Sincere, humane, restless. Always ready to help. Brave, cheerful, ambitious, open to learning. A man who, by his own call, has made such transformations of spirit, lifestyle and thinking that many of us have never dreamed of. A person who does not stop and does not accept half-measures in anything. A person who is always bigger than herself. Fierce. Warm. Real. A warrior," the Hero's family said.

Petro Velykyi

In November last year, Ukrainian actor Petro Velykyi lost his life fighting in the Kursk direction. The warrior had worked at the Taras Shevchenko Chernihiv Regional Ukrainian Musical and Drama Theater since 2004. Velykyi had played over 35 roles. The terrible news was reported by the Hero's daughter, actress Kateryna Velyka.

"Employees of the Territorial Center for Recruitment and Social Support came to the theater and notified the Petro's daughter, Kateryna, who also works as an actress with us, of his death. We don't know any more details, the family hasn't come to terms yet. However, according to his comrades-in-arms, who are also our actors fighting alongside Petro, he was killed in the Kursk sector on November 15," said the theater's general director, Serhiy Moysiienko.

Artem Kovbasynskyi

Ukrainian actor of the Klaipeda State Music Theatre Artem Kovbasynskyi joined the Defense Forces from the first days of the full-scale invasion, returning home from Lithuania. According to the artist's family, he could not afford to live in peace abroad because he would lose his dignity.

The defender's colleagues noted that he considered it his duty to defend his native land from the occupiers, "Unfortunately, not everyone comes back from the war. Today we received the painful news that Artem Kovbasinskyi, a former ballet dancer of the Klaipeda State Music Theatre, was killed on the battlefield in Ukraine."

Volodymyr Fedinchuk

In January 2024, another loss was reported. Volodymyr Fedinchuk, an actor of the Rivne Academic Ukrainian Music and Drama Theater, died. The Ukrainian soldier was only 31 years old. According to Rivne Mayor Oleksandr Tretiak, the actor's life was cut short in a battle near Mykhailivka in Donetsk region. "Unfortunately, our actors, scientists, athletes, and teachers are dying. We are losing the best of the nation," the mayor emphasized.

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