People say last goodbye to fallen soldier, STB Channel sound engineer Ivan Shulha, on Maidan Nezalezhnosti Square

A farewell ceremony for the Ukrainian soldier, the sound engineer of the STB TV channel Ivan Shulha, who was killed on June 14, took place yesterday on Maidan Nezalezhnosti Square [Independence Square] in Kyiv.

As reported by the channel, since 2015, Ivan has been a part of almost all popular STB projects such as MasterChef, Weighed and Happy, Daddy’s in Home Charge, Surprise-Surprise, Around the Worlds for Treasures, etc. But with the start of a full-scale invasion, he left the film set to defend Ukraine on the battlefield.

“The war certainly made the society closer, attracted the attention of the world community, etc.,” Ivan Shulha wrote on his Facebook page shortly before his death. “Acquaintances and friends, colleagues, with whom I communicated less closely recently, suddenly turned into sensitive volunteers and simply caring ones, who did not sing praises, but did the work and helped. And they continue this honorable mission. Side by side with weapons in their hands, there were people who, with very little probability, would have met in civilian life. But they have a common goal and confidently choose Victory. Awareness interrupts the call on the radio right next to your ear, to which you simultaneously get up from the ground, press the transmission and briefly answer ‘Plus. Doing it.” And you follow your way. 4.5.0.”

Ivan Shulha‘s death was reported on June 16. Ivan was 34 years old. He is survived by his wife, an STB employee, Asia Shulha, and a 9-year-old son.

“The best signalman of the battalion,” tweeted Ivan‘s comrade-in-arms Alina Sarnatska. “Musician and sound engineer of STB. He spoke Polish and Czech and listened to some extreme hardcore in the car.”

“I thought I would take these photos away one day when writing my memoirs. But… I studied with Ivan Shulha in the same high school. In grades 10-11, we had a school rock band where we learned to play, write songs and perform at various concert venues. In short, we were living a bright school youth,” recalls the musician Ivan Marunych. “And today, on Maidan, all the people said goodbye to Ivan, a Hero who gave his life for Ukraine. Eternal Glory, my friend.”

“A brave warrior and a sincere person. Patriot. A talented musician and professional,” says Ivan’s former colleague Olha Filonenko. “It hurts a lot for the second day already. The war continues. Our PEOPLE are dying… They are dying for our Victory… It’s not there yet. And this should be realized when we conduct a dialogue with conscience… And the worst thing is that this Victory will no longer be there for Ivan… It will not be there for all the fallen Ukrainians… Just a hole here in the middle. I am proud to know Vania [Ivan]. I will always remember our interview before becoming colleagues at STB… his incredible light, warm energy, bright creativity, sharp mind and erudition, hair dyed in blue, and directness. Sincere condolences to the family… Eternal Glory to you, Ivan!”