Roman Ratushnyi

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 Ratushnyi was the son of the writer Svitlana Povalyaeva and the public figure Taras Ratushny.^[1] His brother, Vasyl, is two years older. Their mother, Povalyaeva, is Buddhist, and raised both of her children in the same faith.^[2] As a child, Roman's parents took him and his brother to demonstrations, including the 2004 Orange Revolution.^[2][3]

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.^[4] He was one of the plaintiffs who took the violent dispersal of that rally to the European Court of Human Rights, and won.^[5] In 2014, his brother volunteered to fight in the War in Donbas and he wished to fight too, but was too young.^[2]

After Maidan, Ratushnyi graduated from law school^[6] and worked as an investigative journalist, exposing local corruption.^[7]

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.^[8][4][9] 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.^[5]

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.^[8] Several civil society organisations claimed his arrest was politically motivated.^[10]

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^[1] and, after fighting around Sumy for a while, was sent to the east.^[5] During his time with the 93rd, Ratushnyi was known for acquiring cars and equipment for the unit by using his connections in Kyiv.^[2]

Roman Ratushnyi died in the Battle of Izium on June 9.^[11] 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.^[2] His commander retrieved his body four days later, using a thunderstorm as cover.^[2] 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.^[2]

Ratushnyi was buried on Baikove Cemetery in Kyiv on June 18, with hundreds of mourners gathered for the funeral.^[6] Attendees included Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko.^[2]

Legacy[edit]

Ratushnyi became a personification of the generation of young Ukrainians who profess democratic values.^[11]

A street in Kyiv was renamed in his honor; over 30,000 people voted in support of the decision.^[1] The petition with the appeal to award him with the title of Hero of Ukraine has gathered the necessary 25,000 signatures.^[12]

Ratushnyi’s mother, Svitlana Povaliaeva, said that her son had bequeathed to support financially the Shevchenko Museum and the Maiboroda National Bandura Chapel.^[8]

In July 2022, the Kyiv City Council supported the decision to create a landscape reserve on both slopes of Protasiv Yar in Kyiv.^[13] In the summer of 2023, the Protasiv Yar festival was held in Protasiv Yar Park in honor of Roman Ratushnyi.^[14]

An annual scholarship in his name was established to assist community activists in pursuing legal education.^[15][16]

Roman Ratushnyi and all young fallen warriors of Ukraine were nominated for the IFLRY Freedom Award 2022.^[17][18]

References[edit]

Further reading[edit]

• "Opinion | A young soldier's death reminds Ukrainians that the war is taking their best". Washington Post. 2022-06-17. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
• "Story of Kyiv activist Roman Ratushnyi, died in the war with Russia". Ground Report. 2022-06-25. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
• "One young Ukrainian soldier's death felt by family, friends and country". Washington Post. 2022-09-10. Retrieved 2023-10-06.