Ukrainian actor Serhiy Strelnikov, known to audiences for the films 'Dovbush' and 'KILLHOUSE', announced on October 8, 2026, that he had joined the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and taken the military oath. The artist joined the FERRO-6 unmanned systems battalion of the 9th Separate Unmanned Systems Brigade. Following this, he began sharing content about his service more actively on social media, including physical training videos.
From Cinema to Army Service
Having made the decision to join the military, Strelnikov noted his readiness to learn new things and adapt to army routines. The actor also stated that he wants to use his public profile to talk about Ukrainian defenders, their work, and their contribution to the fight for the country. In this way, he connects his professional experience in communication with his new role as a serviceman.
Workouts in an Armor Vest
On his Instagram, Strelnikov published a video featuring physical exercises, with a concise caption: 'How I prepared for basic combined-arms training.' In the footage, the artist appeared wearing a black cap, a camouflage armor vest, and athletic shorts, holding dumbbells and displaying an athletic physique. Essentially, by training in an armor vest, he was seemingly conditioning his body for the load he will carry during daily service.
Years of Preparation for Combat Roles
Physical preparation is not a new hobby for the 46-year-old actor. For his role in the film 'Dovbush', he spent a year and a half preparing for complex combat scenes, performing all stunts himself without stunt doubles, regularly training with the professional stunt team XGST to look as convincing as possible in action sequences. This years-long body conditioning, according to his own posts, is now helping him in army service.
Subscribers' Reaction
In the comments under the publication, users noted Strelnikov's impressive physical shape, thanked him for defending Ukraine, and wished him strength and endurance. It is worth noting that other representatives of Ukrainian show business have recently joined the military as well; for instance, 'Vitalik' TV series star Garik Bircha is also a serviceman.
