Top Ukrainian dancer, 31, dies in mortar attack after leaving stage to sign up to fight against Russian invasion
- Rostyslav Yanchyshen was a machine gunner for the territorial defense of Ukraine
- The former ballet dancer died on a “combat mission” at the age of 31
A top Ukrainian ballet dancer has been killed in a mortar attack after leaving the stage and signing up to fight the Russian invasion.
Rostyslav Yanchyshen, 31, died on a “combat mission,” ballet company Odesa Opera confirmed this weekend.
The soloist joined the Ukrainian territorial defense in the first days of the war after dancing with the company for ten years.
His death was described by the country’s culture ministry as an “unspeakable loss.”
Ukrainian ballet dancer Rostyslav Yanchyshen, 31, was killed in a mortar attack after leaving the stage and enlisting to fight the Russian invasion
Soloist Rostyslav Yanchyshen (pictured) joined the Ukrainian territorial defense in the first days of the war after ten years of dancing with the Odessa Opera ballet company
“The artist’s ballet shoes were replaced by army boots and the music of his favorite performances was replaced by the sound of mortar fire,” the company said of his death. Mr. Yanchyshen is pictured with a fellow dancer
Yanchyshen volunteered to “heroically defend Ukraine” within days of Putin’s full-scale invasion of the country.
The ballet dancer, who is believed to have “loved Ukraine more than anything,” served as a machine gunner, local media reported.
“The artist’s ballet shoes were replaced by army boots, and the music of his favorite performances was replaced by the sound of mortar fire,” said Odessa Opera.
Harry Sevoyan, head of Odessa Opera, praised Yanchyshen as “a smart, talented, decent, intelligent man.”
“He was one of the first to defend his homeland, not by summons, not by warrant, but by his own decision.”
One of Mr. Yanchyshen’s most notable roles was that of a dying soldier in the ballet Trymai.
“As fate would have it, this role turned out to be prophetic for the artist.”
The ballet dancer, who is believed to have “loved Ukraine more than anything,” reportedly served as a machine gunner in Ukraine’s territorial defense. In the photo: Rostyslav Yanchyshen
Harry Sevoyan, head of Odessa Opera, praised Yanchyshen as “a smart, talented, decent, intelligent man.” Mr. Yanchyshen is depicted during a ballet performance
‘Rostyslav died of a mortar attack, a month before his 32nd birthday. This is an unspeakable loss,” said the Ministry of Culture. Mr. Yanchyshen is depicted during a ballet performance
His theater director Yevhen Lavrenchuk said, “An eternal smile, a radiant look – that’s how your colleagues will remember you…” Mr. Yanchyshen is pictured with a fellow dancer
The Ministry of Culture said: “From the beginning of the large-scale invasion, he wanted to defend his country from the invader, but the dancer was not accepted into the armed forces of Ukraine, so he volunteered and joined the territorial defense.
‘At the front it served as a machine gun.
‘Rostyslav died of a mortar attack, a month before his 32nd birthday. This is an unspeakable loss.’
His theater director Yevhen Lavrenchuk said, “Terrible news. The war cost the life of Rostyslav Yanchyshen, a soloist with the Odessa Opera Ballet.
“An eternal smile, a radiant look – that’s how your colleagues will remember you…”