Roman Ratushnyi

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Roman Ratushnyi
Born(1997-07-05)July 5, 1997
Kyiv, Ukraine
DiedJune 9, 2022(2022-06-09) (aged 24)
Izium Raion, Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine
Parent

Roman Ratushny (Ukrainian: Роман Ратушний, call sign: Seneca; 5 July 1997 – 9 June 2022) was a Ukrainian journalist and public activist. Ratushnyi was one of the first participants in the 2014 "Revolution of Dignity". In 2018, he founded an initiative that fights against construction in the green zone of Protasiv Yar in Kyiv. When the Russian invasion of Ukraine began in 2022, Ratushnyi joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He died at the Battle of Izium.

Biography[edit]

Roman Tarasovych Ratushny was born on July 5, 1997, in Kyiv, in the family of Taras Ratushny (activist of the "Save Old Kyiv" movement) and writer Svitlana Povalyaeva. In 2012, he entered the Financial and Legal College (in Kyiv)[1], where he obtained a higher legal education[2].

Euromaidan[edit]

At the end of 2013, Roman took part in the Euromaidan, and with other students suffered from an attack by "Berkut" on the night of November 30[3][4].

After the Euromaidan, for some time, as a journalist, he worked on the project "Metro to Troyeschyna" about Kyiv officials, wrote about energy, about tenders with diesel fuel at Ukrzaliznytsia[5].

In December 2014, he actively participated in protests for personnel changes in the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine and speeding up investigations of crimes committed in 2013-2014 on Euromaidan and in Odesa[6].

In 2015, he created a map of the international relations between the Russian and Ukrainian mafia, based on public articles, records, and links, which included about one thousand people involved in criminal activities.

He supported the investigation of criminal activities and crimes committed by the Russian mafia. He was one of those who influenced the founding of the State Bureau of Investigation.

Roman Ratushnyi was the son of the writer Svitlana Povalyaeva and the public figure Taras Ratushny.[7] His brother, Vasyl, is two years older. Their mother, Povalyaeva, is Buddhist, and raised both of her children in the same faith.[8] As a child, Roman's parents took him and his brother to demonstrations, including the 2004 Orange Revolution.[8][9]

Ratushnyi became an activist in his teens. In November 2013, at 16 years old, he joined the first Euromaidan rally and was beaten by the Berkut special police together with other students, which sparked the Revolution of Dignity.[10] He was one of the plaintiffs who took the violent dispersal of that rally to the European Court of Human Rights, and won.[11] In 2014, his brother volunteered to fight in the War in Donbas and he wished to fight too, but was too young.[8]

After Maidan, Ratushnyi graduated from law school[12] and worked as an investigative journalist, exposing local corruption.[13]

In 2018, Ratushnyi founded an initiative to oppose construction on the green zone of Protasiv Yar in Kyiv. He was publicly threatened by businessman Hennadii Korban.[14][10][15] Together with the Save Protasiv Yar group, he organised protests and road blockades, and fought in court, until in 2021 the park was decisively declared a green zone that could not be built on.[11]

In March 2021, Roman Ratushnyi protested against the illegal imprisonment of activist Serhii Sternenko and was put under house arrest for allegedly painting on the façade of the President’s Office.[14] Several civil society organisations claimed his arrest was politically motivated.[16]

On the first day of the Russian invasion in February 2022, Roman Ratushnyi volunteered and defended Kyiv and helped liberate the settlements of Northern Slobozhanshchyna with the “Protasiv Yar” unit. In early April 2022, Ratushnyi joined the reconnaissance platoon of the 93rd Separate Mechanized Brigade “Kholodnyi Yar” of the Armed Forces of Ukraine[7] and, after fighting around Sumy for a while, was sent to the east.[11] During his time with the 93rd, Ratushnyi was known for acquiring cars and equipment for the unit by using his connections in Kyiv.[8]

Roman Ratushnyi died in the Battle of Izium on June 9.[17] His last mission had been to locate Russian tanks by sneaking close to their positions. He had been able to place mines along the road before being spotted.[8] His commander retrieved his body four days later, using a thunderstorm as cover.[8] His brother and father were both also fighting in the war, all in separate units; his brother had also fought north of Kyiv on the first day of the invasion.[8]

Ratushnyi was buried on Baikove Cemetery in Kyiv on June 18, with hundreds of mourners gathered for the funeral.[12] Attendees included Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko.[8]

Legacy[edit]

Ratushnyi became a personification of the generation of young Ukrainians who profess democratic values.[17]

A street in Kyiv was renamed in his honor; over 30,000 people voted in support of the decision.[7] The petition with the appeal to award him with the title of Hero of Ukraine has gathered the necessary 25,000 signatures.[18]

Ratushnyi’s mother, Svitlana Povaliaeva, said that her son had bequeathed to support financially the Shevchenko Museum and the Maiboroda National Bandura Chapel.[14]

In July 2022, the Kyiv City Council supported the decision to create a landscape reserve on both slopes of Protasiv Yar in Kyiv.[19] In the summer of 2023, the Protasiv Yar festival was held in Protasiv Yar Park in honor of Roman Ratushnyi.[20]

An annual scholarship in his name was established to assist community activists in pursuing legal education.[21][22]

Roman Ratushnyi and all young fallen warriors of Ukraine were nominated for the IFLRY Freedom Award 2022.[23][24]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "2012 - finance and credit, junior specialist, financial and legal college - rating list".
  2. ^ "Dossier: Ratushnyi Roman Tarasovych - Ukrainian public figure, journalist, military man".
  3. ^ "From Maidan to Protasovoy: the story of the activist Ratushnyi".
  4. ^ ""Now I am sure that this country will not abandon me" - Euromaidan students who fled from "Berkut" on November 30".
  5. ^ "Activist Roman Ratushny: The construction of Protasovoy Yar is a barrel in which lies the powder of both the Kyiv and Dnipro mafias".
  6. ^ "Secret materials. The October Mutiny of the Internal Troops. Issue - 100".
  7. ^ a b c "Roman Ratushnyi". Ukrainian Institute. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h Khurshudyan, Isabelle; Morgunov, Serhiy (2022-09-10). "One young Ukrainian soldier's death felt by family, friends and country". Washington Post. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
  9. ^ Hall, Ben (2022-06-17). "Roman Ratushnyi, Ukrainian activist, 1997—2022". Financial Times. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
  10. ^ a b "Fallen activist Roman Ratushnyi and his battle for a better Ukraine". The Kyiv Independent. 2022-06-23. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
  11. ^ a b c "Roman Ratushny believed in a better, purer Ukraine". The Economist. 2022-06-22. ISSN 0013-0613. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
  12. ^ a b Vasilyeva, Nataliya (2022-06-18). "Funeral of young Ukrainian activist attended by hundreds of mourners draped in flags". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
  13. ^ Sauer, Pjotr (2022-06-19). "Ukraine mourns 'our golden generation' killed on frontlines". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
  14. ^ a b c Vernyhor, Polina (2022-06-18). "Activist Roman Ratushnyi Was Buried in Kyiv. We Tell You What Kind of Person He Was and Why the Work He Was Doing Will Live Long". Заборона. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
  15. ^ "Chronology of attacks on Protasiv Yar activists". Центр Протидії Корупції. 2019-08-11. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
  16. ^ "Statement on persecution of activist Roman Ratushnyi by law enforcement agenciesЦентр прав людини ZMINA". zmina.ua. 2021-03-29. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
  17. ^ a b "Roman Ratushnyi, Kyiv activist and defender of the local Protasiv Yar Park, died in the war with Russia". war.ukraine.ua.
  18. ^ "The title of Hero of Ukraine for the deceased Roman Ratushnyi: the petition gathered the required 25,000 votes". hromadske.ua. 2022-08-01. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
  19. ^ "A landscape reserve will be created in Protasiv Yar in Kyiv as Ukrainian activist Roman Ratushnyi, killed at war by Russians, dreamed of". We Are Ukraine. 2022-07-14. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
  20. ^ "Life despite war: Ukraine hosts festivals". www.ukrainianworldcongress.org. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
  21. ^ "HEROES DO NOT DIE: ON ESTABLISHMENT OF ROMAN RATUSHNYI SCHOLARSHIP | Avellum". avellum.com. 2022-07-05. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
  22. ^ Gelashvili, Teona (2022-10-31). "Heroes Do Not Die: The Roman Ratushnyi Scholarship". CEE Legal Matters. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
  23. ^ Читомо (2022-10-09). "Roman Ratushnyi and other young warriors of Ukraine are nominated for IFLRY Freedom Award 2022 posthumously". chytomo.com. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
  24. ^ "Roman Ratushnyi and "young fallen soldiers of Ukraine" were nominated for the IFLRY Freedom Award 2022 posthumously". svidomi.in.ua. Retrieved 2023-10-06.

Further reading[edit]

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