On 1 October, the Day of Defenders of Ukraine, the War Museum hosted a meeting with Heroes of Ukraine, service personnel whose courage and professionalism bring our victory closer every day.
Four Heroes of Ukraine took part as speakers at the event: Major Mykola Stryhunov (‘Stryzh’), an airborne officer; Senior Sergeant Serhii Maar (‘Kaiser’), a platoon sergeant major in an unmanned systems unit; Captain Yurii Zhukovets (‘Zmii’), commander of a reconnaissance company; and Lieutenant Colonel Denys Yudin (‘Viking’), a military pilot.
Museum guide Anton Tymkiv moderated an open discussion with Major Mykola Stryhunov and Senior Sergeant Serhii Maar. The servicemen emphasised that rank was not what mattered most. What truly counted was everyone being in the right role, as both the lives of fellow soldiers and the successful completion of missions depended on it. Mykola Stryhunov recalled how reluctant he had been to relinquish command of his company, which he had led during the battles for Bakhmut and the breakthrough into Russia’s Kursk region. Above all, he valued his soldiers and could only entrust the unit to someone he trusted as much as himself.
Reflecting on the role of technology, Serhii Maar, who had spent more than 230 days in frontline positions, cautioned against the misconception that drones could entirely replace human soldiers. Ultimately, it is still the infantryman in the trench who forms the backbone of the defence. Discussing military strategy, including the Kursk defensive operation and Operation Vivaldi, the defenders stressed that success depended on the timely provision of resources and effective coordination between all branches of the armed forces.
Meanwhile, museum guide Ihor Buchma led a discussion with Captain Yurii Zhukovets and Lieutenant Colonel Denys Yudin. The reconnaissance commander, who had managed to organise his unit’s withdrawal without losing a single soldier despite sustaining five gunshot wounds in close combat, and the highly experienced fighter pilot, who had flown more than 400 combat missions into areas covered by enemy air defences, spoke to young people about inner resilience. They shared how they overcame fear before embarking on missions or combat sorties, and what gave them the strength to continue defending Ukraine’s skies and land day after day.
For the first time, the Museum held a meeting with Heroes of Ukraine in a hybrid format, bringing together 74 participants in person and 34 online. Guests also had the opportunity to speak directly with the servicemen and ask questions about the realities of modern warfare. As a memento of the event, participants received calendars signed by the defenders.
The Museum’s exhibition spaces also became a hub of interactive activities. Visitors could try their hand at operating a Browning machine gun using specialised simulators provided by the Ukrainian Air Force, as well as explore examples of military equipment presented by representatives of the Logistics Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Modern weapons and equipment on display also attracted considerable interest, including Vampire (‘Baba Yaga’) attack drones and unmanned ground vehicles, both of which had been used repeatedly by infantry speakers in combat.
The event brought together pupils from Kyiv Lyceum No. 18 and recruits from the 38th Joint Training Centre. Pupils from Velyka Novosilka Educational Institution No. 1 and Myrnohrad Secondary School No. 10 in Donetsk region joined the meeting online.
The Museum extends its heartfelt gratitude to Ukraine’s defenders for sharing their experiences and for protecting our lives.
Glory to the Heroes!
