Untold stories, sadly, die—along with their heroes. That is why there is an urgent need, felt almost physically, to tell, to speak, to write, to record, to bear witness. To avoid losing the keys to the vaults of memory, to prevent the repositories in the clouds where all this is stored from dissipating, and most importantly, to ensure that our experience and our journey do not become material for the narratives of those who were never even close to this war—the central war of our lives.
Dmytro Lazutkin, Major, Armed Forces of Ukraine
Poet, Laureate of the National Shevchenko Prize
Yuriy Kalyniak (Fidel)
Narrates the short story “I See Dreams” by Mykhailo Filonenko
49 years old, sailor of the 72nd Separate Mechanized Brigade. He graduated from Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, earning a degree in political science from the Faculty of Philosophy.
Yuriy began his combat path in August 2014 and served until September 2015. He participated in positional battles near the village of Hranitne in the Volnovakha district of Donetsk region. When asked about the funniest moment during the war, Yuriy answers simply and succinctly: “Being there—it was a strangely joyful experience.”
Today, he serves in the fire and rescue unit of the Lviv garrison of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine.
What will lead us to victory? — “Thanks to the people, tanks, aviation, artillery…”
In his personal life, Yuriy loves the mountains and photography, finding peace and inspiration in both.
Oleh Suk (John)
Narrates the short story “War Notes” by Yevhen Ravskyi
60 years old, lieutenant of the 63rd Brigade, 42nd Reserve Company. A well-known Ukrainian musician, composer, and arranger, and the bassist of the legendary band “Mertvyi Piven” (Dead Rooster). Oleh is the creator of the formations “Tea Lovers Club”, “Lights of the Big City”, and a number of art-rock, blues, jazz, and avant-garde projects. He also received a technical education, graduating from the Faculty of Electro-Energy at Lviv Polytechnic.
Oleh served in the military from March 18, 2024, to August 28, 2025.
Today, he continues performing with “Mertvyi Piven” while also producing talented children and youth bands at the Lychakiv District School of Arts in Lviv, supporting the new generation of Ukrainian musicians.
What will lead us to victory? — “Because we have no choice, no other option, no other desire, no other goal, no other chance for our own lives.”
About himself, he speaks simply and clearly: “I love Ukraine very much, everything else doesn’t matter.”
Yuriy Bubes (Kruk)
Narrates the short story “By Instanct” by Andriy Zholob
42 years old, soldier of the BPSMOP “Chernihiv”. Before the war, he studied Law at Ivan Franko National University of Lviv and worked in construction, specializing in repairs and decorative finishes.
Yuriy began his combat path in September 2014 when he volunteered to serve in the “Chernihiv” battalion. He took part in military operations in Luhansk and was wounded during the defense of Stanytsia Luhanska. As he jokingly recalls the funniest moment of the war: “I survived, and that’s good enough.”
Today, Yuriy is the head of a veterans’ NGO, actively volunteers, and serves as the manager—chairman of the homeowners’ association—of his residential complex. He believes that Ukraine’s victory lies in unity: “We are united, we are of Cossack heritage, we are strong.”
Oleksiy Kravchuk (Saint Nicholas)
Narrates the short story “Spring, Memory, and Sugar Grass” by Oleksiy Palianychka
62 years old, soldier of the separate sniper company of the 80th ODSHB. Honored Artist of Ukraine, theater and film actor, and a two-time graduate of the Kharkiv Institute of Arts named after Kotliarevsky. In his creative life, he has worked as an actor, director, artistic director, and director of the Lviv Academic Theater “Both People and Puppets.”
Oleksiy joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine in February 2022 and served until July 2023. He experienced some of the most intense combat zones: Voznesensk, Kryvyi Rih, Siversk, Kramatorsk, Bakhmut, Kostiantynivka, and the village of Pelepchatyne. He survived both injuries and concussions.
When asked about the funniest moment during the war, he recalls: “I stayed alive, and in the space between this world and the next, I had the honor of speaking with the Lord—until our conversation was interrupted by Serhiy Vasylovych (my sergeant), who pulled me back to life.”
Today, Oleksiy has returned to the theater, continues creating, and actively volunteers.
He speaks about himself with warmth and philosophy: “Life is beautiful, even in the tragedy of these times. And to tell the story—it would take too long; maybe someday, over a drink, I will share it.”
Anna Ivantsyk (Nine and a Half)
Narrates the short story “Nomads” by Zoryana Grebenyukova-Kobenko
40 years old, sergeant of the 24th King Danylo Mechanized Brigade. She studied at Odesa National University named after I. I. Mechnikov and the Odesa State Pedagogical Institute named after K. D. Ushinsky. Before the war, she worked as a primary school teacher.
Anna went to the front on February 25, 2022, and served until May 14, 2024. She took part in numerous battles, including the grueling defense of Bakhmut, and sustained several injuries during her service. When asked about the funniest memory from the war, she answers briefly and with military precision: “I survived in Popasna.”
Today, Anna works, tries to recover from her experiences, and seeks new meaning in life.
Pavlo Nechytaylo
Narrates the short story “Dogs of War, or How I Met Speedy Gonzales” by Oleksandr Bulich
46 years old, soldier of the 106th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade. He studied at the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy and worked for many years as an archaeologist, participating in expeditions to study cave monasteries. Pavlo is also a Ukrainian musician, leader of the band “Propala Hramota”, member of the duo “Zapaska”, poet, writer, radio host, and holds a PhD in history.
With the start of the full-scale invasion, Pavlo joined the military. He served from February 2022 to January 2023, stationed in the Sumy region. He recalls the funniest episode with a smile: “We went to get sausage without body armor and came under fire.”
Today, he has returned to archaeology and continues the work to which he has devoted much of his life.
About himself, Pavlo says: “A bit of a musician.”
Svitlana Vostrikova (Knopa)
Narrates the short story “It All Began with Maidan” by Ulyana Kuzyk
39 years old, junior sergeant, serving in the recruitment unit of the 67th Mechanized Brigade. She studied at the Lviv Lyceum of Food Technologies and worked as an administrator at the social café “Bazylyk.” She actively volunteered in the international youth movement “Faith and Light”, the “Varta 700” community, and the Ulyana Kuzyk Charitable Foundation. Since 2018, she has been a member of the DUK “Right Sector.”
Svitlana began her military path in October 2024 and continues to serve. During this time, she was recognized with an award for outstanding service and loyalty to her oath. Among her amusing memories, she highlights a moment in Lyman when she and her comrades hurriedly stuffed apricots into their helmets and pockets—just before the expected arrival of an Orlan drone.
Currently, she continues her service and works in recruitment, selecting fighters for the 67th Brigade.
About herself, Svitlana speaks openly: “I am raising two wonderful boys; my older son has autism. Thanks to him, my sixth sense is well developed. I joined the service consciously and regret nothing.”
Oleksandr Mishchuk (The Unsmiling)
Narrates the short story “Vertical Dominants” by Volodymyr Bodnar
34 years old, soldier of the combined unit “Karrak” within the 58th Separate Motorized Brigade. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, Faculty of Culture and Arts, specializing in theater and film acting (Oleh Stefan’s workshop). Before the war, he worked as a cultural figure, sound engineer, and actor at the Les Kurbas Lviv Academic Theater, the Lviv Puppet Theater, and Lesya Theater.
He has been serving since February 2022 and continues to serve today. He participated in battles in the Kharkiv region for four months prior to the Russian offensive of 2024. Currently, he works in the media field, combining creativity with his military experience.
Oleksandr actively engages in cultural projects: he sang in the authentic male singing group “Miklukho Maklai”, founded the Ukrainianization Studio “Two Sevens”, works as a sound engineer for the YouTube channel “Zahin Kinomaniv”, co-founded “Radio Skorbota”, and founded the YouTube channel “Kontora Neposmishnoho(Unsmiling)”.
Andriy Petrus (Andy)
Narrates the short story “Diary of the Bullet-Riddled Forests” by Dmytro Matviishyn
47 years old, sergeant of the 103rd Separate Brigade of Territorial Defense. He graduated from Vocational Art School No. 64 in Lviv, worked as a musician, and practiced as a restorer.
He served from February 2022 to July 2023 and experienced PTSD during his service. His funniest memory from the front is a chance encounter with a raccoon.
Today, Andriy is a private entrepreneur and owner of a small restoration workshop. At the same time, he studies restoration at the Lviv National Academy of Arts.
About himself, he speaks simply and sincerely: “I love my wife Liubtsia very much, and our two little sons, Mark and Eneik.”
Ivan Havrylko (Geologist)
Narrates the short story “I Will Speak Your Name, So You Will Not Be Forgotten” by Maksym Bugel
Ivan, 42, is a senior sailor of the 503rd Separate Marine Battalion. He graduated from Ivan Franko National University of Lviv (Faculty of Geography) and Ivano-Frankivsk National Technical University of Oil and Gas (Faculty of Geology). Before the war, he worked for the State Service of Geology and Subsoil of Ukraine and for the cyber defense IT company Under Defense.
Ivan fought in 2014–2015 during the ATO, and in 2022 he returned to defend Ukraine, continuing to serve in the Armed Forces to this day. During this time, he was wounded three times. His funniest memory from the war is simply surviving three times—once spending a whole day escaping from encirclement.
Today, he serves in the 503rd Marine Battalion while pursuing sports and art: he rowed across the Atlantic Ocean in the Invictus Ocean / Row4Ukraine expedition and paints.
He believes victory will come through persistence. About himself, he says concisely: “Adventurer and restless spirit.” 🙂
