NOVEMBER 18, 1994 — APRIL 25, 2024
29 YEARS, JOURNALIST
Alla had been involved in the war since 2014. During the Revolution of Dignity, she joined the "Right Sector," working with their information department, traveling to the frontlines to write and photograph the war. Eventually, she demobilized.
At the onset of the full-scale invasion, Alla, along with her beloved, returned to the frontlines. With the call sign Ruta, she served in the 58th Independent Motorized Infantry Brigade as part of a mortar battery. She worked with artillery programs and aiming circle, managing an endless stream of data amid the thunder of explosions. Her life was tragically cut short in a shelling near the village of Udachne in Donetsk. She died in her husband's arms, a true heroine.
Ruta was passionate about art and poetry. She carried around 20 paper books with her, often hiding them from her commander to avoid being scolded for the impractical use of space. Even from the trenches, she would write for the National Unity Radio Dictation. Her dream was to open her own bookstore.
Alla belonged to the generation that matured during the war, eagerly planning for a future, despite the grim reality of conflict, according to her colleague.
She was born in the village of Sokil, Volyn region. In civilian life, she worked as a journalist for "Ukrainian Week," as a PR specialist for "Komora" publishing house, and later as a news editor for "Chytomo." She also collected traditional jewelry, followed cultural developments, and adored cats.
Despite her deep involvement in the war, Alla rarely spoke of it. She often stated that the words "victory" and "we are winning" could only be said with a note of sarcasm. She had little patience for young, able-bodied women who fled abroad without children or for men who would rather drown in the Tysa than serve in the military.
“Why are you complaining about the war when you chose to go there yourself, even though you could have stayed home?” they would ask her. "That's just it — I couldn't," Ruta would reply.
