In memory of artist Serhiy Pushchenko (call sign "Fortunate").

Professional artist and honored figure of arts in Ukraine, Serhiy Pushchenko fought for Ukraine with his brush, pen, and weapon. Died on the night of March 2, 2022, in Kyiv region while saving approximately 300 residents of Vasylkiv.

Serhiy was born on June 28, 1960, in Dnipropetrovsk region. He started painting at a young age.

After completing his studies at the Volodymyrivska secondary school, he graduated from the Dnipropetrovsk Art College (painting department) and later from the Ivan Fedorov Ukrainian Polygraphic Institute in Lviv. As a graphic artist, book designer, and art editor, he worked at the Kharkiv publishing house "Prapor."

In the late 1980s, the artist became fascinated with the theme of Cossack history and began to delve into history. Towards the end of the Soviet period, he switched from the Russian to the Ukrainian language.

“It was clear to me right away that Serhiy was an extraordinary person. His life energy, patriotism, knowledge of history and art, principledness, and even a certain militancy all left a significant impression,” – remembers his wife Natalia.

Serhiy was an active participant in the Orange Revolution. He volunteered at Maidan and slept in tents. He was thrilled that Ukrainians had "awakened" and felt their strength.

Together with other patriots, he joined the Revolution of Dignity, capturing the fateful days of resistance against dictatorship in his artwork.

Since 2014, he volunteered, and from 2015 to 2018, he served as a volunteer in the DUK "Right Sector." During the ATO, he created a gallery of paintings and graphic portraits of Ukrainian soldiers – 113 works sized 80x60 cm and 7 sketches. Of these, 106 portraits were included in his authorial book-album "Portraits of Volunteers at War," published in April 2018 by the Kharkiv publishing house "Maidan."

“Under shelling, he painted pictures and created the artistic project 'Portraits of Volunteers at War.' He is the author of a unique literary-artistic project, artistic collage works titled 'Frontline Kobzar,' which were presented in Kyiv, Lviv, Chernihiv, Kherson, and Ternopil. Dozens of exhibitions in various cities always attracted numerous art enthusiasts and patriots of Ukraine,” - shares the head of the VO "Union of Volunteers," Olena Zhivko.

From October 2017 to April 2018, there were 10 solo exhibitions of Serhiy Pushchenko in Ukraine.

The artist collaborated for a long time with the V. T. Zaitsev Institute of General and Urgent Surgery of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine. He created the design for a series of medical books on surgical treatment technologies (the author and editor of the publications is Academician V.V. Boyko). The series includes 13 books with over 1100 original illustrations of human anatomy, surgical techniques, and various treatment algorithm schemes.

On the first day of the full-scale Russian-Ukrainian war, the Pushchenko family left their native Kharkiv. The 61-year-old head of the family left his wife and children with friends in Ternopil region and went to Rivne. From there, he joined the DUK "Right Sector" heading to Kyiv region.

Serhiy's comrade with the call sign "Fartovyi" recounted that a group of 4 people was sent to Vasylkiv. An enemy sabotage and reconnaissance group was active in the city, and the enemy managed to infiltrate the military administration building. Around 10 PM, a very intense and prolonged battle began.

“Serhiy stayed in the corridor, giving us the opportunity and time to occupy these positions. Then an enemy bullet hit him... By sacrificing his life, he allowed us to take our positions and saved me and the territorial defense fighters who were there. We took positions to protect about 300 civilians who were in the shelter of the administrative building. We eliminated the Russian sabotage and reconnaissance group. Serhiy died heroically; I did not know he was an artist,” - recounted "Fartovyi."

Serhiy Pushchenko was buried on March 5, 2022, in Rivne.

He was a member of the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine and a laureate of the Bohdan Khmelnytsky Journalistic Prize for the best coverage of military topics in literature and art.

He created 900 paintings: landscapes, portraits, still lifes, and a series of canvases titled “Cossack Heritage – No End.” The artist was a member of the Kharkiv regional branch of the All-Ukrainian Society "Prosvita" named after Taras Shevchenko, NGO "Heritage," and NGO "Union of Volunteers." As a member of the public organization of modern Ukrainian Cossacks, he belonged to the Pokrovskyi Hundred of the Kharkiv Cossack Sloboda Regiment.

In June 2022, Serhiy Pushchenko was posthumously awarded the Order of “For Courage” III degree.

His wife Natalia donated 130 works of the artist to the Military History Museum of the Officers' House in Lviv. A major exhibition of his works took place there from August to October 2022.

The artist's book "Frontline Kobzar," released in a limited edition signed by Valerii Zaluzhnyi, raised significant funds for Ukrainians at auctions in the USA.

Honor and glory to the Hero!

Photo: Facebook page of Serhiy Pushchenko, Suspilne