In the fight for Ukraine, soldier Ruslan Hanushchak (call sign “Ostap”) of the 92nd Separate Assault Brigade lost his life. He was a military journalist and an official of the Automobile Federation of Ukraine.
A courageous warrior and a multifaceted individual with numerous talents and passions, Hanushchak was deeply involved in organizing and hosting motorsport competitions. He was a devoted father to his daughter and a reliable life partner to his wife, Oleksandra Kodak, the director of many automotive events.
During the Maidan and the Revolution of Dignity, Hanushchak was always in the thick of events, defending Ukraine’s freedom and its European choice. When the war in Donbas began in 2014, he volunteered for the then-battalion “Azov” as part of the “Spilno.TV” film crew. Creating materials about the heroic struggle of Ukrainians against the Russian-fascist invaders, he worked on the frontlines, in the hottest spots: Shyrokyne, Hranitne, Berdyanske, Lebedynske, and Mariinka.
In 2016, Hanushchak completed his work on the film “Two Days in Ilovaisk,” about the Ilovaisk encirclement. Another of his documentary works, a film about Georgian volunteers titled “Brother for Brother,” gained recognition far beyond Ukraine and was presented in the United States, the United Kingdom, and many other countries.
Following Russia’s full-scale invasion, Hanushchak joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine as part of the 92nd Separate Assault Brigade named after Hetman Ivan Sirko. His life was tragically cut short on January 11, 2025.