Media Center Ukraine Producer Department

After the russian occupation of Luhansk in 2014, Oleksandr Ivantsov left his hometown. In 2015, he joined the Azov Brigade. He spent five years fighting in eastern Ukraine before being demobilized. When russia launched its full-scale invasion, Ivantsov was near Africa, protecting ships from pirates. But just three weeks later, he was flying to Mariupol aboard one of the helicopters that broke through to the city and reached the Azovstal steel plant.

Ivantsov informed his wife about his decision to join the defense of Mariupol only after he had arrived at the steel plant. The defense of Mariupol lasted 86 days, with Ukrainian troops surviving under constant shelling almost without water, food or essential medicine for the wounded. On May 16, 2022, the defenders still holding out at Azovstal received orders to surrender in order to save their lives. Ivantsov did not want to surrender to russian forces, so with his commander’s permission he remained at the plant.

For seven days, he hid in one of the tunnels with only limited supplies and a sleeping bag. He later got rid of his weapon, found civilian clothes and left the plant. For 18 days, Ivantsov walked without any contact with the outside world as he made his way back to Ukrainian-controlled territory. He lost 11 kilograms but eventually reached safety. Later, the serviceman returned to duty. In June 2025, Ivantsov was awarded the title Hero of Ukraine.

Interviews with Oleksandr Ivantsov can be arranged both online and offline in the Kharkiv region by prior agreement and coordination with his press officer.

• military
• Mariupol

If you are interested in this topic, you can obtain the subjects’ contacts from the Producer Department of Media Center Ukraine.

On May 20, the Kyiv Khartiia Hub together with the Ukrainian First Aid Movement will host an intensive training session on the use of tourniquets, one of the basic skills both military personnel and civilians should possess.

During the event, civilians will learn how to identify bleeding that requires a tourniquet, as well as the different types and features of tourniquets. Participants will also practice applying tourniquets until they can do it automatically.

Registration is required to attend the event.

If you are interested in this topic, you can obtain the subjects’ contacts from the Producer Department of Media Center Ukraine.

To remind the public about the defenders of Azovstal and other Ukrainian troops still held in russian captivity, peaceful rallies are planned in 27 cities.

On May 16, rallies will take place in Svitlovodsk, Okhtyrka, Chernihiv, Vinnytsia, Zaporizhzhia, Shpola, Volochysk, Bila Tserkva, Poltava, Dnipro, Pavlohrad, Lviv and Ostroh.

On May 17, events are scheduled in Kyiv, Krolevets, Pivdennoukrainsk, Mykolaiv, Korop, Obukhiv, Ovruch, Kremenchuk, Dolynska, Cherkasy, Kharkiv, Lozova, Uzhhorod, Rivne, Berdychiv, Kropyvnytskyi, Chernivtsi, Odesa and Ivano-Frankivsk.

The events are organized by the families of prisoners of war from the Mariupol garrison. Ukrainians released from captivity also frequently join the rallies.

• prisoners

If you are interested in this topic, you can obtain the subjects’ contacts from the Producer Department of Media Center Ukraine.