The hero-photographer Volodymyr Myronyuk died in the advanced positions near Kurdyumivka with a camera in his hands, with the footage of the last, most risky reportage.
On the warpaths, thousands of people knew him by the call sign “John”. He is now forever 59 years old.
And it is very difficult to describe his personality. A Ukrainian, a citizen of the United States, he worked in America for many years as a long-distance driver. He came to Ukraine for a long time when the Maidan began.
He was not a professional journalist. He was not a professional photographer. He was not a professional soldier.
But his impressive photos were seen by many people, and to do such a thing where he was at the front, you need to have the heart and endurance of a warrior.
As Yuriy Butusov writes, who once asked him:
“- Why don’t you want to work as a journalist in the team?
– I’d rather be alone. I’m not interested in big money, tasks, I don’t need a certificate. It is important to me when outstanding heroes write to me and ask – “remember, you photographed us there at the front – can you send the photo?” And also, I am often wanted now, when it is necessary to find the last photos of the dead – and several times it happened that the only photo that remained of a person on his grave was mine. I feel useful to be there, among them, and I am proud of it. And for life, my friends will somehow help me – I need very little.”
In America, “John” loved to photograph the beauty of nature. And in Ukraine, he felt the call to photograph heroes.
Since 2014, he has become one of the mascots at the front, and thanked every soldier he met with photos.
He loved brave people who risked themselves for the sake of high goals, he was glad that he could capture the real faces of real heroes in the moments of the greatest trials. He got to the front without any permission, because he loved the soldiers, felt them, and easily gained trust. When necessary, he picked up a weapon or sat behind the wheel. More than once he directly participated in hostilities as a volunteer, he did not need to be looked after and guarded. He behaved at the front like an ordinary fighter, and thus had the opportunity to shoot where the risk was maximum.
“John” visited all areas of the front, he did not know fear and fatigue if there was an opportunity to find himself in the whirlwind of events.
Volodymyr Myronyuk made the last report a few days ago at the position of the Ukrainian infantry, where the enemy attacked and conducted a hurricane fire for many hours. His body could not be retrieved for three days due to heavy shelling.
In the archive of Volodymyr Myronyuk, there are unique shots of many Ukrainian heroes, wonderful portraits, behind which there are many stories.
Author of the post: Yuriy Butusov
Volodymyr came from our region. His mother lived in Velikie Mosty, and now his sister Oksana lives with her family. This was reported in the Velikomostiv City Council.
We express our sincere condolences to relatives and friends. We bow our heads to the legendary man! Eternal memory and glory to the Hero!