The star of "Dovbush" Yakiv Tkachenko was killed at the front

The star of "Dovbush" Yakiv Tkachenko was killed at the front

Ukrainian theatre and film actor Yakiv Tkachenko was killed on the front line. He joined the military at the beginning of the full-scale war, later demobilized, but after some time rejoined the armed forces.

His colleagues reported the star’s death on social media. Actress Irma Vitovska left a somber post on Facebook.

"Yakiv Tkachenko on the shield... Fly, dear and heartfelt. Glory to the hero," she wrote.

Yakiv Tkachenko (photo: facebook.com/alla.samoylenko.16)Yakiv Tkachenko (photo: facebook.com/alla.samoylenko.16)Yakiv Tkachenko (photo: facebook.com/alla.samoylenko.16)

"So cinematic, so talented. A treasure... A golden person. My great actorly love and pride. On the shield... Emptiness," wrote Alla Samoylenko in her publication.

Details of the actor’s death and information about his burial have not yet been disclosed.

Yakiv Tkachenko (photo: facebook.com/alla.samoylenko.16)Yakiv Tkachenko (photo: facebook.com/alla.samoylenko.16)

What is known about Yakiv Tkachenko

Born in Dnipro, in his childhood Yakiv dreamed of becoming a doctor like his mother, but he chose a different path. At the age of 14, he joined the People’s Theatre, which determined his future career.

After school, Yakiv entered the Dnipropetrovsk Theatre College and later worked in the theatre. In 2011, he entered the Karpenko-Kary Kyiv National University of Theatre, Film, and Television, where he studied drama directing.

He began his acting career in film in 2003, and with the development of Ukrainian cinema, his career quickly grew. In 2018, he was nominated for the Ukrainian national film award “Golden Dzyga” in the category of “best supporting actor” for his role as Slavik in the film "The Nest of the Turtledove".

Yakiv Tkachenko (photo: facebook.com/alla.samoylenko.16)

What is known about Yakiv Tkachenko’s service

In March 2022, Yakiv joined the territorial defense forces of his native Dnipro. As part of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, he fought near Vuhledar, obtained the rank of junior lieutenant, served as the platoon sergeant major, and the acting platoon commander.

After sustaining a concussion and a serious injury, he underwent rehabilitation and returned to the front. In February last year, he was demobilized from the army and engaged in acting for a while. But already in September this year, Tkachenko announced his decision to return to the front, having joined one of the elite units.

Yakiv Tkachenko died (photo: instagram.com/yakov_tkachenko)

In his interviews, the star noted that his demobilization was due to family circumstances rather than injuries.

"I was discharged due to family circumstances. There were injuries, yes, but after treatment, I returned to my brigade. So for medical reasons, I would have continued to serve. But then circumstances came together such that my mother needed surgery, and I was the only one who could take care of her. She had no other close relatives. So I was forced to leave," Tkachenko recounted.

He called his decision to participate in the war fully conscious and voluntary:

"This is my conscious decision. To be honest, when I was leaving, I was sure it was temporary, that I was taking off my military uniform and would return to the army after a while. I didn’t know where exactly I would return — whether to my part, where I started serving, or to some other — but I knew for sure that I would definitely be in the military as long as this war continued."

Yakiv Tkachenko (photo: facebook.com/alla.samoylenko.16)

By the way, Yakiv Tkachenko’s filmography includes such works as: "Wild Set", "Red", "The Nest of the Turtledove", "Vataha", "The Price of the Truth", "Inglorious Serfs", "Lalibela", "Dovbush", "Carrier", "Dad’s Scratch" and others.