Zachary 🇺🇸 🇺🇦🐝

Good morning from The Hague! 🇳🇱 On Tuesday, I shared the heartbreaking news of Volodymyr’s death, along with a little about who he was. Only after he was killed did I see his face for the first time. The face behind those incredible videos from the 34th Marine Brigade. Only then did I learn that he was also the man behind the videos exposing the tragedy in Oleshky. And only then did I learn about his friendship with Irishka and Serhii. Serhii wrote a deeply moving tribute to his friend on Facebook. I’m sharing it in the post below. Volodymyr’s death has affected so many people. It makes me terribly sad. And angry. So angry. And it reminds me, once again, exactly why we’re here. Why we help Ukraine. And why we must never stop. Because russia will not stop committing these atrocities until it is no longer capable of doing so. The 34th Marines urgently needed two batteries. Irishka had started fundraising for just one at a time, knowing how difficult fundraising has become lately. I decided to cover the cost of both. Not because money can make any of this better. It can’t. But because I wanted to take one worry off Irishka’s shoulders and make sure the marines get what they need. It’s one small, practical thing I can do in the face of so much grief. Today, I’ll be setting up our new fundraiser for more than 700 military sleeping bags for Ukrainian defenders. There’s no time to lose. Because the war doesn’t take a break. The defenders don’t get a break. And neither can our support. Keep helping Ukraine. Keep showing up. 🇺🇦❤️ The video I'm sharing here is one of his remarkable pieces of work. This is how I knew him, long before I knew his name.

💔 Heartbreaking news from Kherson. Today, October 27, Volodymyr Obertas, press officer of Ukraine’s 34th Marine Brigade, was killed by an explosive device in Kherson while accompanying medical personnel. Volodymyr was the talented man behind the wonderful videos we’ve received from the 34th Marine Brigade. He was originally from Oleshky, the Russian-occupied town across the Dnipro River. He dreamed of returning home. And here is the heartbreaking irony. Volodymyr created the video that spread across social media, drawing attention to the desperate situation in Oleshky and helping build momentum for the evacuation of its residents. Today, on the very first day of the announced ceasefire intended to allow that evacuation, he was killed. Just a few kilometres from his hometown, without ever seeing the outcome of the mission that meant so much to him. A man who used his camera to show the world what was happening in Ukraine has become another victim of Russia’s war. Rest in peace, Volodymyr. 🕯️🇺🇦 My deepest condolences to his family, friends and fellow Marines. Герої не вмирають. 💔