Journalist Anton Klitnyi killed in battle outside Orikhiv

On June 25, platoon commander, junior sergeant, and journalist Anton Klitnyi was killed as a result of a shrapnel wound during a battle outside Orikhiv, Zaporizhzhia Region.

Anton‘s relatives reported this on social networks.

“They say that five people defended that position. Anton sent two of them to the rear on some business; thereby, he saved the lives of some of the soldiers while remaining in the line of fire as a commander. They were able to take away our fallen soldiers only two days after the tragedy, also under fire and at great risk to their lives,” the mother of the deceased, Nataliya Klitna, who is the head of the Association of Rights Owners and Content Providers, wrote on the social network.

Before the start of the full-scale war, Anton Klitnyi was a lawyer, human rights defender, designer, and journalist of StopCor, and founder of the 25.info news agency.

“Anton Klitnyi is not just a journalist, a lawyer, not just a talented person. This is the brightest person I’ve ever met,” Anton‘s colleague and friend, lawyer Roksolana Ariyonchyk, said in a comment to the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (NUJU). “He appeared at the war, not in the process of mobilization. Even before the war, when it was obvious it was inevitable, Anton firmly said: “I will go to defend the country. I feel that there will be military action. I have to be there!” And joined a territorial defense unit. He defended Kyiv. Then he was transferred to the Zaporizhzhia Axis, where he died… At the time of his death, he was a platoon commander. He recently received the rank of junior sergeant, which he was very proud of. He was indescribably respected by his peers…”

According to Roksolana Ariyonchyk, the fate of the occupied territories particularly hurt Anton because he is from Donetsk, and in 2014, the family had to move to Kyiv.

“He has already lost one home. He found a new one in Kyiv and went to defend it. Defending the country… It was important for him,” said Roksolana Ariyonchyk.

“Anton appeared in our family about six years ago, and everyone immediately loved him,” wrote the father-in-law of the fallen soldier Ihor Shevchenko on a social network. “A soft-spoken person with a subtle sense of humor and an ironic look… A real man, a citizen, a father…”

Anton was 28 years old. The soldier is survived by his wife, a Suspilne journalist, Anastasia Klitna, and a small son.

The NUJU expresses its sincere condolences to the family of the deceased. Eternal memory, honor, and respect!

NUJU Information Service