Courage and Service: Heroes Meet Youth in Kyiv
“How to become a true hero?” ― On May 27, 2025, an extraordinary meeting took place in Kyiv between veterans and the youth: cadets, high school students, and university students.
The event, dedicated to Heroes Day, was moderated by renowned Hero of Ukraine Volodymyr Zhemchuhov, who addressed the audience with important thoughts about the connection between generations and the ongoing struggle for the freedom of our nation. He emphasized the importance of knowing history and using the native language.
“I grew up in Luhansk, where Russian aggression first manifested in words and later led to occupation. It is crucial to know your history, as the Ukrainian language constitutes our borders,” Volodymyr Zhemchuhov emphasized.
During the meeting, fighters from the GUR of Ukraine, including “Rasomakha”, “Samokha”, and “Teige” along with veterans from “Artan” and “Kraken” shared their life and service stories. All of them are volunteers.
The warriors were awarded for their bravery in battle, including the orders of “For Courage”.
“Lessons from history show that we lost battles due to division, and it was painful to realize that. We must learn from this,” said a fighter with the call sign “Teige”.
Cadets were curious about modern battlefield trends and asked why they chose to serve in the Ukrainian military intelligence.
“I have an analytical mindset and believe that in the GUR, the most important thing is intelligence, as it surpasses strength,” explained the scout Samokha.
Veterans from “Artan” and “Kraken”, who were injured, recently returned from the Himalayas, where they scaled Everest on prosthetics. They encouraged the youth not to fear challenges and to always strive for learning.
“We have to stop the enemy, and your generation must rebuild the country. This is your responsibility, and you need to be prepared for new challenges. You are the future of our state,” Ivan Tarn emphasized.
In conclusion, the scouts urged the youth to overcome fears, strengthen their will, and character. After the event, participants had the opportunity to informally chat with GUR warriors and take photos as a memento.
