#FrontlineKobzar: A Book Presentation and a Unique Photo Exhibition Held in Kaniv
On 15 May 2025, Frontline Kobzar, a book by fallen Ukrainian defender, volunteer, and painter Serhiy Pushchenko, was presented at Chernecha Mountain in Kaniv.
Serhiy was a distinguished Ukrainian artist, the creator of over 900 paintings, and a volunteer soldier who heroically lost his life in battle near Kyiv in 2022. His devotion to Ukraine’s independence spanned his entire adult life.
The presentation was organized as part of the MHP Standing Together program, dedicated to supporting military personnel, veterans, and their families.
Serhiy Pushchenko’s relatives and comrades gathered at Tarasova Hora, where his wife, Natalia, introduced the book. Ukrainian defenders honored the occasion by reciting Shevchenko’s poetry.
The event was attended by Tetiana Volochay, the Head of the Community Development Council of the MHP-Gromadi Charitable Foundation, who shared her thoughts:
“Kaniv, Tarasova Hora — there is no better place for such an event. Everything here exhales Shevchenko, his creativity, his legacy. And now, Frontline Kobzar opens a new dimension — not as a museum piece, but as something alive, relevant, from the frontlines. This event gives space to Shevchenko’s voice as it echoes from the trenches. His museum in Kaniv is no longer just a place of memory — it has become a place of action, where poetry intersects with the reality of war and resounds as never before.”
Tetiana Volochay, Head of the Community Development Council at the MHP-Gromadi Charitable Foundation
“Frontline Kobzar is more than just a book — it is a powerful symbol of the Ukrainian people’s indomitable spirit, a people who have fought for their freedom for centuries. Taras Shevchenko’s poetry has guided generations of defenders in their struggle for independence. What makes this publication truly unique is its artwork — real war footage transformed into compelling visual narratives. Serhiy Pushchenko’s collages, created from photographs of Ukrainian soldiers, volunteers, and frontline correspondents, intertwine past and present, reminding us that the fight for Ukraine is far from over. Like many depicted in these pages, Serhiy himself fell in battle. Yet his art — his vision of this ongoing struggle — lives on, immortalized in this book and in the hearts of those who remember.”
Yurii Melnyk, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of MHP-Gromadi Charitable Foundation.
In tribute to the fallen comrade, defenders from various brigades recited verses from the Great Kobzar, reading aloud in the very places where today’s warriors engage in the fierce struggle for freedom and independence. Amid dugouts and the thunder of explosions, fearless soldiers demonstrated that Shevchenko’s words remain a profound source of unity and strength.
“Supporting this publication is a mission we hold dear, Yuriy Melnyk added. We believe this book will inspire both those who fight and those who remember. Shevchenko’s poetry and the heroism of our defenders will guide us toward victory.”
The first presentation of Serhiy Pushchenko’s book took place in 2021, before the full-scale invasion, during the artist’s lifetime. Accompanied by an exhibition of photo collages, the book toured several cities across Ukraine. However, at the time, only a limited number of copies were available.
In 2025, Frontline Kobzar was republished in an updated edition with a significantly larger print run.
Following the tragic loss of Serhiy Pushchenko on the night of 2–3 March 2022, it seemed unlikely that Frontline Kobzar would see a new edition. However, thanks to the support of MHP-Gromadi, the book was revived — updated with photographs from the full-scale invasion and distributed widely. This revival was particularly symbolic, coinciding with a competition for the best recitation of Shevchenko’s works among the Airborne Assault Forces. Announced by the Airborne Assault Forces Command and supported by MHP-Gromadi, this initiative reinforced the idea that Shevchenko’s poetry remains not only in our hearts but as a voice of resistance, resilience, and future victory.
Olena Zhyvko, Leader of the Volunteer Fighters Association Military-Civic Organization
Frontline Kobzar is the work by Serhiy Pushchenko, a fallen Ukrainian defender, volunteer, and painter. Serhiy was a distinguished Ukrainian artist, the creator of over 900 paintings, and a volunteer soldier who heroically lost his life in battle near Kyiv in 2022. His devotion to Ukraine’s independence spanned his entire adult life.
Born in 1960 in the Dnipropetrovsk region, Serhiy developed a passion for art early on. He pursued formal training at the Dnipropetrovsk Art College and later at the Ivan Fedorov Ukrainian Polygraphic Institute in Lviv. He worked as an art editor at Kharkiv’s Prapor Publishing House.
The Cossack theme had fascinated Serhii since his youth, and it was during that time that he developed an interest in history. His works included landscapes, portraits, and still lifes, but the Ukrainian Cossacks remained the central theme of his art. Among his most notable creations is the Cossack Family Has No End painting series.
Serhiy was actively involved in the Orange Revolution and later participated in the Revolution of Dignity. Even then, he did not abandon his artistic talent — he captured those fateful days for Ukraine on canvas and paper.
Between 2015 and 2018, Serhiy fought as a volunteer under the call sign Artist, creating 113 portraits of fellow Ukrainian soldiers, most of which were later published in his “Portraits of Volunteers in the War” album (2018).
In March 2021, Frontline Kobzar, a publication merging Taras Shevchenko’s poetry with Serhiy Pushchenko’s artistic photo illustrations, was presented. The book features over 40 artworks, spanning different eras of Ukrainian history and showcasing the nation’s strength and indomitable spirit.
To create its powerful visual storytelling, Serhiy drew from his personal photo archive, including images from battles in Donbas, the Revolution of Dignity, and photographs from the front lines captured by soldiers and war correspondents. The illustrations also include excerpts from Shevchenko’s works along with paintings from the The Cossack Family Has No End series.
On the first day of the full-scale invasion, Serhiy evacuated his family from Kharkiv to Ternopil Region before enlisting with the Volunteer Fighters Association to defend Ukraine. During a fierce battle in Vasylkiv, Kyiv Region, he sacrificed his life to protect his comrades, enabling them to take defensive positions to protect civilians from an enemy sabotage group.
He was laid to rest in Rivne in March 2022, and posthumously awarded the Order of Courage, III degree, in June 2022.
About the Poetry Reading Initiative
Although Taras Shevchenko wrote his poetry more than two centuries ago, his words remain prophetic and deeply resonant. They continue to inspire those defending Ukraine under the harshest conditions and instill faith in a prosperous future for all Ukrainians.
Each year, on Shevchenko Days (traditionally held on 9–10 March), his verses are recited on the frontlines. As part of the #FrontlineKobzar initiative and the #MHP_Standing_Together program, Ukrainian defenders read Shevchenko’s works in dugouts, amid the thunder of explosions, demonstrating their unwavering national consciousness. In partnership with Ukrainska Pravda, MHP, and the MHP-Gromadi Charitable Foundation, a collection of historical frontline videos has been curated, allowing all Ukrainians to witness this powerful tradition and feel the indomitable spirit of the nation’s military.
https://life.pravda.com.ua/projects/frontoviykobzar-306833/