Oleksandr Klymenko, a media professional from Poltava, was killed on the front lines
Oleksandr Klymenko, a well-known cinematographer and film editor in Poltava who was defending Ukraine as a member of the Armed Forces, was killed on the front lines while carrying out a combat mission.
The tragic news was confirmed by the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine, citing the results of a DNA analysis.
Before the full-scale invasion, Oleksandr had dedicated many years to working in television, creating visual content for the local channels “Misto” and “Tsentralnyi.”
Colleagues remember him as a consummate professional who always stayed behind the scenes but produced high-quality footage for viewers.
In October 2023, the media professional traded his camera for a weapon and joined the military, where he served as a signalman.
In the summer of 2024, while carrying out a routine mission on the front lines, contact with him was lost, and for a long time, Oleksandr was considered missing in action.
“We hoped he was alive, that he had been taken prisoner, and that he would return. The miracle didn’t happen,” shared his colleague Oleksandr Usachov of “Suspilne Poltava,” expressing his grief.
For many months, family and friends clung to hope, but the latest identification data put an end to this difficult story.
It was not until April 30, 2026, that DNA analysis definitively confirmed the identity of the deceased among the remains of fallen defenders that had been returned as part of the repatriation process.
The identification procedure marked the final stage of a long and exhausting wait for the defender’s family.
Oleksandr Klymenko became the 119th member of the media community to give his life for Ukraine’s independence since the start of the war.
Journalists, cameramen, and editors continue to defend the country with weapons in hand, often at the cost of the ultimate sacrifice.
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