Yaroslav Hrubych, a videographer, director, soldier, and Kyiv Post colleague, lost his right arm during a recent combat mission – a life-altering injury he revealed with trademark wit and optimism.
Hrubych was the first to share the news publicly, posting on social media with a mix of humor and emojis. In his post, he wrote, “I survived… went through something terrible this week,” revealing he had lost his arm in battle.
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“You learn fast with your left hand if you’ve got the will,” Hrubych wrote. “But they’re already promising, as they said, ‘a new sexy arm.’ Or maybe I misheard – I lost my hearing for a while…”
Despite the severity of the injury, Hrubych’s spirit remains unbroken. He continues to express gratitude to his family and friends, and closes his message with a defiant note of resilience: “You can’t give up. And we cannot be defeated.”
Hrubych is known not only for his work behind the camera, but for his unshakable energy, humor, and courage — qualities that continue to shine even in the face of devastating loss.
Yaroslav has always been one of those who goes where it is the most dangerous. He has filmed documentaries, given voice to the troops, and worked under fire.
As part of Kyiv Post reporting teams, Yaroslav Hrubych has worked in some of the most sensitive and high-risk locations. He filmed inside detention centers holding Russian and Chechen prisoners of war captured during fighting in northern Ukraine, conducted interviews with Chinese nationals taken on the battlefield, and documented operations on classified military bases that remain undisclosed to this day. In each of these environments – tense, restricted, and often dangerous – he remains focused, composed, and deeply professional.
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Yaroslav Hrubych filming a military evacuation training. Photo by Kateryna Zakharchenko.
Yaroslav Hrubych filming Russian prisoners of war inside a detention facilityl. Photo by Kateryna Zakharchenko.
Together with the rest of our Kyiv Post team, he has covered prisoner exchanges, spoken with drone operators before missions and special forces soldiers after raids. Yaroslav and Kyiv Post have interviewed foreign fighters from all over the world, Ukrainian intelligence officers working under anonymity, and medics saving lives under fire. Every time, Yaroslav knew how to find the angle that mattered — not for drama, but for truth.
Videographer Yaroslav Hrubych and journalist Kateryna Zakharchenko on assignment at the training base of the International Legion.
Yaroslav frequently traveled to active combat zones and frontline towns to document the war as it unfolded, capturing stories that were often too close to the fire for most to reach.
He filmed war not as spectacle, but as reality. He didn’t seek perfect light — he sought truth. You could see it in his framing: steady, respectful, present. He knew when to zoom in, and when to step back. His camera never betrayed trust.
And when the camera was off, he was still watching, still listening. Not to report — just to be present. We argued about edits, cursed batteries, laughed over bad coffee. And through all of it, he remained — steady, honest, and human.
Yaroslav Hrubych and journalist Kateryna Zakharchenko during a reporting trip
Yaroslav truly loves Ukraine — in his actions, in choosing to film where it’s most dangerous, in his desire to show the truth about the war, in serving in the army. He holds a deep and unwavering hatred toward Russia — as a country that wages this war, destroys, and kills.
The Kyiv Post team is proud to call Yaroslav one of our own and sends Yaroslav support and wishes him a swift and full recovery.
Selected highlights from Yaroslav Hrubych’s most powerful work:
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