Dmytro “Ben” Bendikov was a journalist, an editor, and a warrior. He traded his pen for a rifle, enlisting to defend Ukraine despite having no previous military experience. On March 18, near his birthplace in the Luhansk region, he gave his life for his country’s freedom.
This is the story of a man who lived with courage, humor, and an unbreakable spirit - on the front lines of both journalism and war.
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At least 117 Ukrainian media workers have died in the war that was sparked by Russia’s 2022 full-scale invasion. This included 89 journalists who had volunteered to defend Ukraine, according to verified data published by Ukraine’s National Union of Journalists and the International Federation of Journalists on March 20.
The latest name added to this tragic list is Dmytro “Ben” Bendikov – a soldier with the 1st Assault Battalion of the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade - whose death was officially confirmed last Thursday.
He was my former colleague and one of the best bosses I ever had. We worked together for two years and although we weren’t close friends, we were close in spirit. We stayed in touch over the years, shared our inside jokes about Ukrainian politicians, and constantly exchanged memes about Ukraine’s former Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman.
I look at your name and refuse to believe you’re on this list. Even though I laid roses in your coffin. The last time we saw each other was in early 2023. I don’t want to - and can’t - accept that there will be no more meetings.
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In Ukraine (and probably not just here), people say that someone lives on as long as their memory does. I want Dmytro’s name to be remembered for as long and by as many people as possible.
Who was “Ben” Bendikov? Friends and colleagues remember
Born in Severodonetsk, the Luhansk region - occupied by Russia in June 2022 - Dmytro dedicated his life to journalism. His career began in 2011, though a classmate recalls them dabbling in journalism even during their school years in Severodonetsk.
After moving to Kyiv, he worked for leading Ukrainian media outlets. He was the editor-in-chief of news feeds at RBC-Ukraine (where we met in 2015) and Den’gi [Money], as well as editor-in-chief of Realist. In June 2023, he joined 1+1 media as the editor of the TSN.ua website.
In July 2024, he enlisted in the Third Separate Assault Brigade. Journalist and close friend Anna Durava recalls that he insisted on becoming an assault fighter, “even though he had never held anything heavier than a pen, had poor eyesight, and an elderly mother with limited mobility.”
“He could have stayed behind, but he didn’t,” she wrote. “Of course, Dima wasn’t taken into the stormtroopers because of his eyesight, but his PlayStation gaming skills came in handy at the front.”
“Dimka was cheerful and brave. But his courage was quiet - often hidden behind jokes and an overall sense of optimism. Still, those who knew him never doubted his bravery,” Durava added.
Journalist and close friend Olena Panchenko shared on Facebook: “He could have avoided service and received a reserve status. He could have stayed at headquarters, but instead, he joined the stormtroopers.”
Mykhailo Yudkovich, a journalist and PR specialist who was Dmytro’s supervisor at RBC-Ukraine, recalled that Dmytro had spoken about his plans to join the military as early as the summer of 2022.
Dmytro served as a ground drone operator. In the fall of 2024, after completing training, he was deployed to the Kharkiv region. His unit was responsible for delivering ammunition and provisions to the front lines and ensuring reliable communication for drone operators.
A soldier from the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade and Dmytro’s comrade, Mykhailo Lyagov, remembered him as a noble and exceptionally courageous man.
“Kind, intelligent, and incredibly brave. And it wasn’t a showy kind of bravery,” Lyagov recalled. “Sometimes, I’d ask him, ‘So, are we going [on a combat mission]?’ and he’d just reply, ‘Yes, yes, let’s go.’ There was such calmness in his voice, even when the situation was terrifying.”
His love for his home town, his mother and hedgehogs!
At the start of the full-scale invasion, Dmytro moved his mother, Hanna Semenivna, from Severodonetsk to Kyiv. He firmly believed that one day, his hometown - devastated and occupied by Russian forces - would be liberated and rebuilt. In addition to caring for his mother, Dmytro also took in an African hedgehog that had fled from the occupied territories.
Dmytro had a deep love for animals - especially hedgehogs. Hedgehogs appeared in his social media avatars, as toys on his shelves, and, of course, in conversations with friends. He had long dreamed of owning one but worried about the responsibility and whether he’d have enough time to care for it properly.
He followed the website of a hedgehog nursery in Melitopol, Zaporizhzhia region. Then, in April 2022, he learned that the nursery had managed to escape from the occupied city and was scrambling to find homes for refugee hedgehogs. That’s how he became what he proudly called a “hedgehog father” to an African hedgehog named Javelin.
“I decided not to change his name - Javelin - because it definitely brings good luck to both us and the hedgehogs,” Dmytro told The Village.
He also emphasized that getting a pet wasn’t just about love - it required commitment and resources. “You need a whole business plan for a hedgehog,” he said. “But when, if not now, should we take in animals? They urgently need our help, attention, and love.”
Dmytro’s war experience
Dmytro was first injured in early December 2024 while trying to save a portable electronic warfare system that protected his unit’s dugout from Russian drones.
According to his comrades, he suffered four shrapnel wounds - to his stomach, arm, and legs - after an explosion from a weapon dropped by a Russian drone. He then spent a day and a half sheltering from more drones before he could make his way to safety.
When he emerged, he walked in full armor to the evacuation point and later spent a month in the hospital with a fever that hovered around 40°C, all while assuring his friends that he was fine.
Former colleague Dmytro Malyshko recalled how “Ben” once told him that a piece of shrapnel had lodged behind the blood vessels and nerves in his hand. Because of its position, doctors decided not to remove it, warning him that the pain could unexpectedly flare up ove the coming weeks, months, or even throughout his lifetime...
“After the injury, we asked him to transfer to a rear position, but he replied, ‘No, I’ll keep fighting. There are so few people at the front. Otherwise, girls won’t love me,’” Durava said.
Svitlana Panyushkina, Editor-in-Chief of TSN.ua, recalled that Dmytro never once complained about the hardships of war.
“He said he would fight until the very end - however long it took,” she emphasized.
Even under the heaviest shelling, Dmytro remained an optimist. Friends recalled how he kept up morale with jokes and memes. He also read voraciously, even bringing books with him to his dugout on the front lines.
March 18: The day he gave his life for Nadiya
Since last Thursday’s news, I don’t know how many times I’ve scrolled back through my Telegram messages with Dmytro.
“Last seen March 18 at 4:29 p.m.”
That day, he and several other soldiers - including comrades from a related unit - were killed while carrying out a combat mission near the village of Nadiya in Dmytro’s native Luhansk region.
On the morning of March 20, his family, friends, and colleagues received the devastating news of his death.
On March 23, Ukraine’s Third Assault Brigade announced the liberation of the village of Nadiya in Luhansk, reclaiming three square kilometers from Russian forces. This operation lasted nearly 30 hours. Nadiya was first taken by Russia in March 2022, briefly recaptured by Ukraine in October 2022, before being lost again - until now.
“If you saw the news about the liberation of Nadiya, Dima gave his life for it - he died beside it. He was reclaiming the land where he was born, and he gave his life for it,” Panyushkina said.
“This is the price of every meter of our land - the lives of our loved ones and friends,” she added.
A final farewell
On Tuesday, March 25, Dmytro’s relatives, friends, colleagues, and comrades gathered at Kyiv’s Berkovetske Cemetery to say their goodbyes. There was pain - so much pain. Tears, sobs, and despair.
Yet there was also deep respect and pride from those who had the privilege of knowing him.
Dmytro’s funeral was held in the church on the cemetery grounds. After his brothers-in-arms draped his coffin with the national flag, the Ukrainian anthem played. “We will lay down our soul and body for our freedom.” Dmytro paid the highest, most immeasurable price for Ukraine - his own life.
The coffin was then carried out of the church and placed in a vehicle that led the procession to the burial site. Along the road, many soldiers knelt to honor him.
During the ceremony, his comrades recited the Prayer of the Ukrainian Nationalist:
“And I will dissolve in you and live forever in you, eternal Ukraine, holy, powerful, united.”
Traditional farewell shots rang out, followed by the soldiers’ solemn vow: “We will take revenge, we will take revenge!”
Then, one by one, people approached to see Dmytro’s face for the last time, placing flowers in his coffin. Some of us left our own final tribute - small toy hedgehogs, because he loved them so much.
Dmytro’s mother was the last to say goodbye. It was a moment filled with both tenderness and unbearable sorrow. She kissed his forehead, stroked his hair gently, then kissed him again, her eyes lingering on his face, as if trying to memorize every feature.
“Dima, you were needed by everyone who knew you, we miss you so much”
This was the last time we saw Dmytro’s physical body. But I believe he will live on - in our hearts, in our thoughts. Friends and colleagues will always remember the extraordinary, intelligent, kind, and cheerful person he was.
Longtime friend Margaryta Polyakova:
“I will remember, love, and talk about him for as long as I breathe. He was a wonderful, kind soul who should have had many more years in this world. It is unbearable, and I still can’t believe it. Those who pray - remember him in your prayers. Those who don’t – remember him in a minute of silence. May his memory live on.”
Maryna Hryhorenko, close friend, senior editor at UNIAN:
“We had known each other for about 18 years, maybe more. Dima was always an incorrigible optimist - ready to offer support in tough moments, to share in joy, to go to the movies, or simply take long walks around the city. He was the one I confided in when I didn’t want to talk to anyone else. Dima was a truly irreplaceable friend, and I will miss him deeply.”
Oleksandra Hudyakova, close friend, journalist:
“It’s very strange to talk about Dima in the past tense. We’ve known each other for over ten years. Our friendship began with the chocolate bunnies he anonymously left on my desk to support me. That was Dima - kind and attentive, cheerful, somewhat difficult and stubborn, incredibly intelligent, and well-read.”
“And also brave. Even military service and injuries never changed his cheerful nature. Dima often sent jokes and funny videos. He shared photos from the dugouts, always smiling. The fact that he’s no longer here still feels unreal. I keep expecting a message from him.”
Olena Panchenko, close friend, journalist:
“Many people knew that you are awesome. I don’t want to say ‘were’ because, perhaps, that’s how death works - you will continue to exist, but now only in our memories. I read every post about you that I come across. In the comments, people you never met write, ‘Glory to the Hero’.”
“But ‘hero’ feels so impersonal, doesn’t it? This is our Dima! Before you became a hero, you were always a friend. And being a friend was your true essence. You were a friend to so many people, each in a unique way.”
Nadiya Kovtan, journalist, friend:
“Dima knew how to find joy, even in the little things. He knew how to support and comfort. You could say anything to him, joke about anything, and know that he would never judge. Dima was a wonderful leader, a sincere and kind friend.”
“‘Look, they sent me such a cute hedgehog - so cute!’ he said happily about a gift last fall. It’s hard to believe that now his cheerful voice can only be heard in recordings.”
Tetyana Kavunenko, journalist, former colleague:
“Dima was someone who radiated light - kind, sincere, always ready to help. I will always remember him smiling. He always had a pocketful of funny, sometimes ridiculous, stories. A collection of toy figures on his desk. A never-ending supply of jokes and memes.”
“Dima knew how to enjoy life despite everything. He was real - childishly direct, simple in the best way. There aren’t many people like that in the world. He will be remembered as someone who changed the world around him, making it a little better and a little kinder. He shouldn’t have left so soon…”
Mykhailo Yudkovich, journalist, ex-boss:
“You could always rely on Dima - he was ready to lend a shoulder and help in any situation. He stood by his subordinates like a rock. Even after our professional paths diverged, we stayed in touch. It was always easy and interesting to work with Dima. He was deeply knowledgeable and could hold a conversation on any topic.”
“What surprised me most was the brigade he joined. When I asked him about it, he simply said, ‘They say they need people like me’.”
“But in truth, Dima, you were needed by everyone who knew you. We miss you so much.”
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