--- title: "Independence Daymates: Fighters of the GUR's 'Artan' Unit Tell How They Grew Up with Ukraine and Stood Up to Defend It" description: "On Independence Day, fighters of the GUR's 'Artan' unit, born in 1991, shared stories of growing up alongside the country: from Maidan and 2014 to defending independence in the war." date: 2026-08-24T13:58:03.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/artan-fighters-independence-daymates-personal-stories-en tags: [ukraine-independence-day, artan-gur, special-operations, ukraine-military] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Independence Daymates: Fighters of the GUR's 'Artan' Unit Tell How They Grew Up with Ukraine and Stood Up to Defend It ![Soldiers of the Artan unit of Ukraine's GUR in full tactical gear](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/24/bojcy-artana-rovessniki-nezavisimosti-istorii/bojcy-artana-rovessniki-nezavisimosti-istorii-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - Fighters of the GUR's 'Artan' unit, born in 1991, published a video on Independence Day featuring personal stories of growing up alongside the country. - The servicemen recall Maidan, the start of the war in 2014, and the occupation of their home cities, linking their personal biographies with the history of independence. - The materials also mention the fallen 'Artan' fighter Dmytro Strunnikov, who previously worked as a circus acrobat. On Independence Day, which will be marked for the 35th time on 24 August 2026, fighters of the 'Artan' special unit of the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine published a video on Telegram featuring personal stories. Particular emphasis is placed on the generation born in 1991 β€” the very year the country declared its independence. For these servicemen, the history of the state and their own biographies almost perfectly coincide day by day: they studied, fell in love, dreamed, and matured alongside Ukraine, and when the war began, they stood up to defend it. This is reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing the unit's official statement. ### Independence daymates: growing up alongside the state In the footage, the servicemen recall the key milestones of their lives β€” their school years, Maidan, the start of hostilities in 2014, and the occupation of their home cities. It is emphasised that for the generation of 1991, independence is not an abstract political concept but a concrete life experience: the right to live freely, to study, and to determine their own future. It is precisely this coincidence of their birth dates with the date of the declaration of independence that the authors of the video call the main theme of their congratulation. ### Maidan and 2014: personal memories of the start of the war One of the fighters recounted that he went to Maidan in his home city repeatedly with his father and believes that Ukrainians' awareness of themselves as a single nation and people began precisely in 2014 β€” with the Revolution of Dignity, after which the war followed. Another serviceman recalled how he left Donetsk shortly before the start of the Russian occupation: in his words, he left, and three days later tanks entered the city and the ATO began, which he learned about only from the news. 'It is very painful, because Donetsk still remains my home city,' the fighter admitted. ### A childhood of fields versus the reality of air-raid alerts A separate emotional accent in the video is placed on the contrast between the fighters' own childhood and the conditions in which today's Ukrainian children are growing up. One of the servicemen recalls how he used to run across the fields and wonders what modern children see β€” 'air-raid alerts, bombs?'. This fragment underscores that defending independence for the generation of 1991 is also an attempt to preserve for the next generation the right to an ordinary, safe childhood. ### What independence means to a fighter At the end of the video, the fighters formulate a personal definition of independence. In the words of one of them, it is the right to think, the right to a voice, and a child's confidence β€” a child who 'confidently walks to kindergarten, knowing what tomorrow will bring'. Thus, the Independence Day congratulation turns into a personal statement: freedom and sovereignty are not only state institutions but also the everyday safety of every person. ### Context: the 'Artan' unit and the memory of the fallen The 'Artan' special unit of the GUR of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine is described in open materials as a formation carrying out complex tasks in the enemy's rear; documentary films have previously been made about its servicemen, and Ukrposhta issued a postage stamp dedicated to the unit. In connection with Independence Day, RBC-Ukraine also recalls the story of 'Artan' fighter Dmytro Strunnikov, who before his service was a professional circus acrobat, became a volunteer in 2024 and, according to the publication, died in August 2025 while saving his comrades after a mortar strike. These materials form the overall context: the generation born in the year of independence today bears the main burden of defending the state. ## πŸ” Fact-Check Verification - [Grew up with Ukraine and stood up to defend it: stories of 'Artan' fighters β€” independence daymates](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/virosli-ukrayinoyu-i-stali-yiyi-zahist-istoriyi-1787578887.html) - Основной источник: Π²ΠΈΠ΄Π΅ΠΎ-ΠΏΠΎΠ·Π΄Ρ€Π°Π²Π»Π΅Π½ΠΈΠ΅ «Артана», Ρ†ΠΈΡ‚Π°Ρ‚Ρ‹ Π±ΠΎΠΉΡ†ΠΎΠ², ΡƒΠΏΠΎΠΌΠΈΠ½Π°Π½ΠΈΠ΅ ДСниса Π‘Ρ‚Ρ€ΡƒΠ½Π½ΠΈΠΊΠΎΠ²Π°. - [Born in the year independence was declared: GUR 'Artan' fighters tenderly congratulate ...](https://24tv.ua/ru/den-nezavisimosti-pozdravlenija-ot-bojcov-gur-artan-video_n3128809) - ΠŸΠΎΠ΄Ρ‚Π²Π΅Ρ€ΠΆΠ΄Π°Π΅Ρ‚ Ρ‚Π΅ΠΌΡƒ поздравлСния ΠΊ Π”Π½ΡŽ НСзависимости ΠΈ ΠΏΠΎΠΊΠΎΠ»Π΅Π½ΠΈΠ΅ 1991 Π³ΠΎΠ΄Π°. - ['Broke through the mines into the enemy rear.' How 'Artan' has been carrying out 'impossible missions' for 4 years](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/prorvalis-kriz-mini-vorozhiy-til-k-artan-1779977850.html) - Основной источник: Π²ΠΈΠ΄Π΅ΠΎ-ΠΏΠΎΠ·Π΄Ρ€Π°Π²Π»Π΅Π½ΠΈΠ΅ «Артана», Ρ†ΠΈΡ‚Π°Ρ‚Ρ‹ Π±ΠΎΠΉΡ†ΠΎΠ², ΡƒΠΏΠΎΠΌΠΈΠ½Π°Π½ΠΈΠ΅ ДСниса Π‘Ρ‚Ρ€ΡƒΠ½Π½ΠΈΠΊΠΎΠ²Π°. - [Ukrposhta issued a stamp dedicated to the GUR's 'Artan' unit](https://www.pravda.com.ua/rus/news/2025/05/17/7512728/) - Π”ΠΎΠΏΠΎΠ»Π½ΠΈΡ‚Π΅Π»ΡŒΠ½Ρ‹ΠΉ контСкст ΠΎ ΠΏΡƒΠ±Π»ΠΈΡ‡Π½ΠΎΠΌ освСщСнии подраздСлСния. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: Why are the stories of the 'Artan' fighters timed to Independence Day? **A:** Because many of them were born in 1991 β€” the year Ukraine declared its independence β€” and their personal biographies coincide with the history of the state: they grew up alongside the country and stood up to defend it in the war. ### Q: What do the fighters recall in the video? **A:** They talk about their childhood, Maidan and the Revolution of Dignity, the start of hostilities in 2014, the occupation of their home cities (including Donetsk), and how the childhood of Ukrainian children is changing because of air-raid alerts and strikes. ### Q: Which of the fallen fighters is mentioned in connection with the publication? **A:** RBC-Ukraine recalls the story of Dmytro Strunnikov from 'Artan', who before his service was a circus acrobat, became a volunteer in 2024 and, according to the publication, died in August 2025 while saving his comrades after a mortar strike.