Yakiv Tkachenko

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Yakiv Tkachenko, a theater and film actor from Dnipro, was killed in action while serving on the front line with Ukraine's 128th Territorial Defense Brigade, his friends and colleagues reported on Dec. 14.

Tkachenko was known for his roles in Ukrainian films such as "Chervonyi" ("Red"), "Dovbush," and "Pryputni" ("The Strayed"). He also appeared in "Mr. Jones," a high-profile film about the man-made Holodomor famine, directed by Agnieszka Holland.

Film director Oles Sanin announced Tkachenko's death on his Facebook page: "One of the most talented Ukrainian actors," Sanin said. "A true knight. A true friend."

According to a March 2024 report from PEN International, at least 102 Ukrainian cultural figures, including writers, artists, translators and historians, have been killed since the beginning of the invasion.