Volodymyr Bodnar
A sergeant of the 80th Separate Airborne Brigade and 101st Territorial Defense Brigade. Geneticist-biotechnologist, co-founder of a charitable foundation, and a science art practitioner.
Author of the short story “Vertical Dominants” in the collection Stories of Warriors, where he blends philosophical reflections, dark humor, combat experiences, and poignant moments of humanity. The story vividly conveys the mindset of a wounded soldier at a stabilization point, where pain mixes with magical thoughts, and the professionalism of the medics is striking.
Military path
He has served in the Armed Forces of Ukraine since August 2022, joining as a volunteer. As part of the 80th Separate Airborne Galician Brigade, he took part in the Kharkiv counteroffensive operation. He sustained a severe injury near Makiivka, Luhansk region. After rehabilitation, he returned to combat and participated in the Kursk operation of 2024. He continues to serve with the 101st Territorial Defense Brigade.
Awarded the “For Wounds” medal and numerous certificates of recognition.
Currently, he teaches tactical medicine, evacuates the wounded, and works at a stabilization point.
Strong emotions overwhelm you when local residents come out to greet our column, the first to enter a recently liberated village or city.
Or when you are heading into an assault, and soldiers from the second and first lines wish us luck, raising a clenched fist, fully aware that not everyone will return from the fight alive.
When you suddenly realize that you are the hero of hundreds of songs you have heard and sung since childhood, and as you remove your Kevlar helmet, you clearly feel that you are doing it with the hands of millions of warriors from different eras, in a mystical kinship and the unbroken continuity of the struggle for Ukraine. Experiencing this comes at a high cost, but it is worth it.
Civilian Path
Graduated from the Faculty of Biology at Lviv National University with a degree in Genetics and Biotechnology. Co-founder and chair of the supervisory board of a charitable foundation providing psychological support to children with cancer. Volunteered as a lecturer at Ivan Franko University, and authored scientific articles and a dissertation study. Participated in numerous art projects as both an artist and curator, working primarily in science art (bioart) and media art.
How he started writing:
In my family, everyone has kept a diary since childhood, so I started writing as soon as I learned how to write.
Favorite Books, Music, and Films
Music: In 2022, on the front lines, I was uplifted by the song “With the Golden Lion on the Sleeve” by KORALLI feat. Andriy Sereda.
Books: With great aesthetic pleasure, I read a collection of short stories by Volodymyr Vynnychenko, which I found in the library of a destroyed school in Borova. I am especially fascinated by literary styles such as magical realism, poetic surrealism, non-cynical postmodernism, and, eventually, even cynical postmodernism. I must make a special mention of Bagryany: “The Garden of Gethsemane” is a work of Nobel Prize caliber, and it is a pity it is little known abroad. Among non-fiction, I recommend reading Ken Wilber’s diary. At the time of filling out this profile, I am reading Domontovych, and I very much enjoy it.
Films: “Prayer for Hetman Mazepa” by Yuriy Illienko — beyond any doubt, a pinnacle of world cinema. Lars von Trier nervously smokes on the sidelines.
Recklessness and courage — in hoc vincemus!