Ukrainian actor and TV presenter Hennadii Popenko has publicly announced his new military service assignment. In a recent Instagram post, he shared that he has decided to join the National Guard of Ukraine and will now serve at the Kyiv Institute of the National Guard. According to him, this specific role allows him to combine military service with his civilian profession—working on cultural, educational, and communication projects.
The "fit for service with restrictions" status determined the unit choice
The key factor in choosing his new posting was the consequences of a knee injury. Popenko explained that due to his previous injury, he holds the status of being fit for military service with restrictions, which narrowed down the range of suitable assignments. "I am glad to join the National Guard of Ukraine. Due to a previous injury, I have the status of fit, but with restrictions. Therefore, out of the many military offers (and there are plenty—everyone will find something for themselves), I chose the one that can combine service and a civilian profession," the actor wrote. At the same time, he noted that he will not disclose details of upcoming initiatives just yet, as in his opinion, it is better to talk about projects after they have been implemented.
The path to the army: from rejections to a security company
As Popenko previously recounted, he made the decision to join the military at the beginning of the full-scale invasion, but initially faced a refusal—he was told that during wartime he should remain an artist. Despite this, the actor visited the enlistment office three times and was eventually enrolled in a security company. "We worked on the northern border, performing various tasks," he recalled. Later, he changed units and transferred to the 59th Separate Mechanized Brigade, working as part of the "Cultural Landing" team—a structure that supports the morale and psychological state of the military through cultural and educational events.
"Cultural Landing": what is this format?
Popenko emphasized that the work of the "Cultural Landing" is not just about concerts or lectures, but about comprehensive work adapted to the needs of a specific unit. "This is not some order from the General Staff, not the experience of the Soviet or NATO army, this is something born here in Ukraine and extremely valuable," the artist noted. It is precisely this experience, following the logic of his new appointment, that he intends to develop within the walls of the Kyiv Institute of the National Guard.
Injury in the Zaporizhzhia direction and recovery
The knee injury that currently determines his fitness status was sustained while serving in the Zaporizhzhia direction. The actor underwent one surgery, but due to re-injury, another surgical intervention was required. He explained that recovery will be prolonged, and the main task at the current stage is to restore full functioning to the limb. It was these medical consequences that led to his status as fit for service with restrictions.
Context: not just Popenko
Recall that earlier, the winner of the "Dancing with the Stars" project, Maks Leonov, also admitted to serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, a fact he had long hidden from fans. Popenko's story continues the line of public statements by Ukrainian artists about their participation in military structures—not only in combat roles, but also in culture-supporting roles which, as the actor himself notes, have become a unique Ukrainian phenomenon.
