TSN journalist Dmitry Svyatnenko spoke about his brother’s death.

During a Russian ballistic missile strike in the Dnipropetrovsk region, soldiers gathered for a ceremonial parade for an awards ceremony were attacked. Among those killed was 43-year-old Volodymyr Svyatnenko, call sign “Znakhar,” a drone pilot serving in the 35th Separate Marine Brigade. His brother, TSN journalist Dmitry Svyatnenko, reported this on his Facebook page .

According to the journalist, Vladimir Svyatnenko had been fighting since 2023.

“He went through hell in Krynki, Kurakhovo, Maryanka, Krasnogorovka… He was killed by the Russians. But not on the battlefield. Deep in the rear. He and his fellow soldiers were gathered on the parade ground to receive an award. They gathered the best. The brigade’s best pilots and infantrymen. By order. In the open. Ballistic missiles came flying. The story of negligence (or not) repeated itself,” he wrote.

According to the journalist, his brother was valued in the brigade, and the press service filmed a story about him. He was “held up as a role model for others:”

“He carried out the wounded, saved his fellow soldiers—it’s not for nothing that he was called ‘Znakhar.’ From an ‘anti-tank sailor,’ he became a UAV pilot. He was the first to fly optical sights. He taught and motivated his fellow soldiers…”

The journalist also added that his brother was allowed to go abroad on leave, from where he returned to service.

Attack on the military – what is known

As UNIAN reported, the death of service members in the Russian strike was reported to the Vostok group of forces. Law enforcement agencies are investigating the circumstances of the incident and compliance with requirements “regarding the timely notification of missile threats, prohibition (restriction) of personnel deployment and holding meetings and gatherings in open areas, as well as deployment in areas not designated for such purposes.”

(C)UNIAN 2025