On Thursday, April 25, we sadly lost our colleague, Alla Pushkarchuk (Ruta), a former journalist at The Ukrainian Week and an expert in art and theatre. Alla joined The Ukrainian Week in 2018 after her service in the ATO. Later, she worked as a public relations specialist at the Komora publishing house and as an editor at Chytomo, where she led the collaborative project “People with Empty Chairs” with PEN.
With the outbreak of the full-scale invasion, Alla re-enlisted in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. She served as a mortar operator in the 58th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade, using compasses and artillery programs on her tablet.
We have collected memories of our dear colleague, along with her articles and interviews published during her time at The Ukrainian Week.
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“Alla, a tender soul who ventured into war back in 2014, left behind the realm of art, her studies at Karpenko-Karyi University, and her cherished dream of a career in theatre,” reflects Dmytro Krapyvenko, longtime editor-in-chief at The Ukrainian Week, who currently serves in the Armed Forces, in his Facebook post. “It was 2018 when we crossed paths. Alla wore a sombre, fatigued expression; she was emotionally drained. I tried to lighten the mood, offering words of encouragement, assuring her that everything would fall into place and that The Ukrainian Week would be her haven. She attempted to smile, but it seemed to require a physical effort. Welcoming Alla into The Ukrainian Week family, she approached her work with dedication, evolving from a journalist to a seasoned cultural critic. Yet, what brought me even greater joy was witnessing Alla’s transformation as her wardrobe blossomed with vibrant and feminine hues. The sound of laughter echoing in the newsroom, accompanied by Iryna Riaboshtan’s cheerful presence, affirmed that Ruta was breaking free from the shadows of war,” Dmytro reflects in his Facebook post. “In early 2020, Alla made the decision to pursue a career in publishing, which left me with a tinge of sadness. As a parting gift, Alla presented me with Leonid Plyushch’s book ‘His Secret, or ‘Beautiful Bed’ by Khvyliovy’, inscribed with the heartfelt message: ‘Thank you for the year at The Ukrainian Week! It was a year of rediscovering faith in myself and in people.’ Perhaps my life’s accomplishments aren’t as abundant, but within these words lies a sense of reassurance that I’ve done some things right, and though the road ahead may be challenging, it will never be without pride. ©.”
After a period of time, Alla and The Ukrainian Week had a reunion during the days of remote work, allowing her to operate from her hometown in Volyn and from Kharkiv, where Maxym—her future husband—resided. As the full-scale conflict unfolded, our communication became more frequent, with the realization that both she and Maxym were serving in the Armed Forces. There was a time when we were almost within reach of each other on the front lines but somehow always missed connecting. Ruta even sent me directions to Zaitseve (near Bakhmut), a treacherous route but with no alternative at the time, for which I am thankful. Our last conversation, sadly not the least, was earlier this year. We agreed to write to each other “when there’s some good news,” but that moment never arrived. Instead, a fatal shelling took Ruta’s life. Alla belonged to the generation that grew up amidst war but still looked forward with hope. She cherished folk jewellery, immersed herself in cultural activities, and shared photos of her feline companions wherever she went.
No one can fill Alla’s shoes, whether in civilian life or in the military. It’s a loss that cannot be repaired in any way.”
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“I had the privilege of working alongside Alla (Ruta) Pushkarchuk at The Ukrainian Week after her return from the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO). She was a remarkably deep, sensitive, and intelligent individual. She swiftly delved into her work, producing news articles of high quality and speed. Alla displayed an impressive blend of creativity and responsibility—you could always count on her. Situated across from each other, we engaged in frequent conversations on various topics. War wasn’t her preferred subject… Instead, she passionately discussed theatre, music, and literature. Alla was a devoted fan of the Odyn V Kanoe music band—she attended almost all of their concerts, eagerly anticipating each new one. She lovingly spoke of her newly acquired books and harboured dreams of visiting the Slovo House in Kharkiv… The last time I messaged Ruta on Facebook was in January 2023, when she was back at war, defending everything she held dear. And now, to think that such a bright and powerful individual is no longer with us… It’s an incredibly profound loss,” reminisces former news editor of The Ukrainian Week website, Andriy Petrynskyi.
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Tetiana Teren, the Executive Director of Ukrainian PEN, reminisces about her encounter with Ruta at the “Slovo” House in a heartfelt Facebook post: “Just a few days back, Ruta tagged me in her Instagram story, stirring memories of a poignant evening in early June 2022. ‘I stumbled upon this 2022 photo,’ Ruta wrote. ‘It’s from Kharkiv, at the Slovo House. That evening holds a special place in my heart, full of joy and warmth. Please, order the posthumous poetry collection of Viktoriya Amelina; it contains powerful verses by an extraordinary individual lost to Russian aggression.’ In the snapshot, Vika, Sashko Savchuk, Andrii Liubka, Ruta, and her beloved Maxym—all serving in the military—are captured together.
Earlier that day, we had lunch in the city centre, where Ruta spotted Volodia Yermolenko and Tania Ogharkova and approached them to express her appreciation for their podcasts and written works. Later, we invited Ruta to join us at the Slovo House that evening if her and Maxym’s duties permitted.
Shortly after, my report detailing our inaugural volunteer expedition was published and made available in both English and Swedish, allowing for further discussion on the matter.
The gathering that evening brought together writers and journalists from Kyiv, Lviv, and Uzhhorod, alongside artists from Kharkiv, cultural managers, volunteers, and military personnel—particularly, a young military couple. Alla, who had recently been delving into articles on culture and literature, now found herself and her boyfriend serving in the military. Although summer had just begun, February 24, 2022, remained an ongoing reality for them and for each of us. That evening marked our sole in-person encounter. Before then, our interactions were limited to Ruta’s tenure at The Ukrainian Week and later at Chytomo, where she spearheaded our collaborative project “People from Empty Chairs.” Our communication dwindled thereafter until a few days ago when Ruta unexpectedly tagged me in her story, reigniting memories of our shared past, where, despite the challenges, we smiled. I responded with a broken heart emoji, and she reciprocated. I had intended to request the original photos from her to preserve the memories, but alas, I never did.
I think about Ruta that evening; I think about my admiration for this incredible couple—about the young, incredibly beautiful, whole, real people… I think about that June of ours, which was filled with so much closeness, togetherness, and warmth. I think about our wounded Kharkiv region, dear to Ruta. And I think about Ruta, the beautiful young girl who went to the front in 2014.
Ruta, you were such a radiant light; soar high in the skies…”.
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During the height of the war, Alla Pushkarchuk, having served over a year as a mortar operator in the Ukrainian Armed Forces, shared a poignant Facebook post that, unfortunately, still holds true today:
“I can’t help but hear the words ‘victory, we’re winning’ with a bitter undertone when, for instance, I come across news about men who claim to have ‘no country, only family,’ or those who’d sooner drown in the Tysa River than enlist; or when I wade through endless comments suggesting that ‘let the pros handle the fighting, I’ve never even held a weapon, I’m more useful here’—you know, talking about the economy, culture, and all that. Funny enough, I’m a theatre expert by trade, yet for over a year, I’ve been entrenched in a mortar crew, grappling with software, compasses, and an endless barrage of numbers amidst explosions, sleepless nights, and worsening health issues. Though I’m wary of using my own ordeal as a benchmark because ‘I chose to go to war when I could’ve just stayed peacefully at home.’ I also can’t fathom why young, capable women without children opted to flee abroad as refugees…” — Alla penned.
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Rest in peace, dear Ruta…
