Denys Skorbatiuk (Professor)

Senior Soldier of the Reconnaissance Company of the 15th Operational Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine, translator, and comic book author.

Author of the short story “When Death Walks Nearby” in the collection “Voices of Defenders, Vol. 1”, where he describes fear, a quadcopter, the adaptation to war, and the ability to love life even when death is close. After returning from the front, Denys resumed his creative work and translation activities.

I love traveling, playing computer and board games, reading books and comics, and watching movies. I enjoy the art of storytelling in all its forms.

Military path

Denys is 32 years old. He was born and lives in Zaporizhzhia. He served as a senior soldier in the 15th Operational Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine.

After the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022, he joined a reserve company in Zaporizhzhia. From June 2022, he served in a special reconnaissance company as a scout and Mavic 3 drone operator. He carried out combat missions in the areas of Kamianske, Stepove, and Stepnohirsk in the Zaporizhzhia region.

In March 2023, he was seriously wounded near Kamianske. After a long period of treatment and rehabilitation, he was discharged from service in June 2024 by decision of the military medical commission.

From his front-line stories, he recalls:

Once, under the influence of enemy electronic warfare, I lost control of my Mavic drone. Thinking I had landed it at our position, I actually sent it far into the rear — into a local resident’s garden. To find it, I had to climb over a tall fence and search for the drone among rows of tomato plants. I fell hard from the fence, but in the end, I found the Mavic.

Civilian life

Before the war, Denys earned two master’s degrees — in Law and in English Translation — at the Classical Private University in Zaporizhzhia.

He worked as a translator of English-language comics, TV series, and films. His portfolio includes 33 translated comic volumes, 2 books, 5 TV series seasons, and 1 animated film.

He also wrote scripts for comics: his authored works include *Saga of the Sunbearers*, *Defender of the Crown*, and *Volya 2*. His short story *The Beast Hunter* was published in the anthology *The Crimson Nights Gate*.

After demobilization, Denys returned to translation and writing.

How he began writing:

In childhood, he felt the need to write and created fan fiction based on his favorite computer games.

Favorite books, music, and films:

Books: I enjoy fantasy, especially The Witcher series, Powder Mage series, and works by Terry Pratchett and Joe Abercrombie.

Music: I like metal, synthwave, and folk.

Films: My favorites are The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Harry Potter.