Dmytro Kozatskyi

Dmytro Kozatskyi
Дмитро Козацький
Born
Dmytro Oleksandrovych Kozatskyi

(1995-11-11) 11 November 1995 (age 29)
Malyn, Zhytomyr Oblast, Ukraine
EducationNational University of Ostroh Academy
Occupation(s)Soldier and photographer, Azov Battalion of the National Guard of Ukraine
Known forPhotography from the Siege of Mariupol
AwardsMedal For Military Service to Ukraine (2022), Px3 (2022)

Dmytro Oleksandrovych Kozatskyi (Ukrainian: Дмитро Олександрович Козацький, call sign – Orest; born 11 November 1995[1]) is a Ukrainian photographer, serviceman, senior soldier, and fighter of the Azov Battalion of the National Guard of Ukraine. He was awarded the Medal For Military Service to Ukraine (2022).[2]

Biography

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Dmytro Kozatsky was born in Malyn on 11 November 1995.[1]

In 2014, he left the Rzeszów University of Information Technology and Management (Poland) to become a participant in the Revolution of Dignity. He is currently a student at the National University of Ostroh Academy.[3][4]

In 2015 he joined the National Guard of Ukraine, and later joined the Azov Battalion.[4]

Russian invasion of Ukraine (2022)

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Since 2015, he has been a defender of Mariupol in the Donetsk region. During the Siege of Mariupol from 1 March 2022, together with other colleagues, he held the defense at the Azovstal plant.[4]

As the head of the press service of the Azov Battalion, he published 10 photos of wounded colleagues from the field hospital at the plant, which were shared around the world.[4] One of the photos, in which the young man falls under the rays of the May sun, falling inside the destroyed premises of the enterprise through a hole pierced by shells, was called "Light will win."[4]

To the sound of explosions, he sang the song "Stefania" by the Kalush Orchestra, which brought Ukraine victory in the Eurovision 2022 song contest.[3]

On 20 May 2022, before being taken prisoner, Dmytro Kozatskyi published a post on his Twitter: “Well, that's all. Thank you for shelter Azovstal – the place of my death and my life. By the way, while I am in captivity, I will leave you photos in the best quality, send them to all journalistic awards and photo contests, if I win something, it will be very nice after the release. Thank you all for your support. See you.”[5] On the same day, the Vice Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament Olena Kondratyuk stated that the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine would send photos of Dmytro Kozatskyi to all parliaments of Europe and the world that are on Ukraine's side.[6] The film association Babylon'13 published a video of the "Mariupol Fortress. The last day in Azovstal", filmed by Dmytro.[7]

He was released from Russian captivity in late September 2022 when 215 Ukrainian military prisoners were exchanged for Viktor Medvedchuk among others.[1][8] He appeared on Andrea Mitchell Reports, MSNBC on November 2, 2022.[9]

Awards

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Controversy

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He has been accused by Anatoly Shariy and Kayla Popuchet of social media posts displaying symbols tied to Neo-Nazi ideology. Kozatskyi denied the allegations, and suggested that they were part of a smear campaign.[8]

In October 2022, several photos from Kozatskyi's photo series The Light Will Win were included in an exhibition at the Ferraté Library at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia. On November 13, 2022, Kozatskyi's work was removed from the exhibition and the University released a statement which stated it "wasn't aware of the ideology of the author", and that the university "rejects Nazism and regrets the situation created".[8][13][14] Also on November 13, 2022, Kozatskyi was heckled by Kayla Popuchet at Doc NYC where he was an invited speaker. The heckler was forcibly removed.[8][15]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Пресофіцер "Азову" Дмитро Козацький звільнений із російського полону" [Press officer of "Azov" Dmytro Kozatskyi was released from Russian captivity]. PEN Ukraine (in Ukrainian). 22 September 2022. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  2. ^ "Про відзначення державними нагородами України" [Decree of the President of Ukraine: Regarding state awards of Ukraine. No. 256/2022]. Офіційний вебпортал парламенту України (in Ukrainian). (Note: Award given under name spelled as: Дмитра Олександровича КОЗАЦЬКОГО). 17 April 2022. Retrieved 24 May 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  3. ^ a b "Студент Острозької академії – автор фото з Азовсталі «Світло переможе»" [A student of the Ostroh Academy - the author of the photo from Azovstal "Light will win"]. Національний університет «Острозька академія» National University of Ostroh Academy (in Ukrainian). 17 May 2022. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d e Modina Модіна, Olga Ольга (20 May 2022). "Той самий фотограф з "Азовсталі" пішов у полон: історія "Ореста" та 10 його світлин" [The same photographer from "Azovstal" went into captivity: the story of "Orest" and 10 of his photos]. LIGA (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  5. ^ Kirgan Кирган, Svetlana Світлана (20 May 2022). "«Азовсталь – місце моєї смерті і мого життя», – Дмитро Козацький" ["Azovstal is the place of my death and my life," Dmytro Kozatskyi]. ArmyInform.com.ua, Ministry of Defence of Ukraine (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  6. ^ "Щемливі фото бійця «Азова» відправлять у парламенти Європи та світу - VSN" [Poignant photos of the "Azov" fighter will be sent to the parliaments of Europe and the world]. Volyn News Service (in Ukrainian). 21 May 2022. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  7. ^ Фортеця Маріуполь. Останній день на Азовсталі on YouTube // #BABYLON'13, 20 May 2022.
  8. ^ a b c d Anania, Billy (22 November 2022). "Ukrainian Photographer's Show Canceled Over Neo-Nazism Accusations". Hyperallergic. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  9. ^ "Amb. Oksana Markarova: 'We will not stop until there is accountability' for Russia's inhumanity". Andrea Mitchell Reports; MSNBC.com. 2 November 2022. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  10. ^ "Wojciech Grzędziński autorem Zdjęcia roku w Grand Press Photo 2022. Jury: "Zaniemówiliśmy"" [Wojciech Grzędinski is the author of the Photo of the Year in Grand Press Photo 2022. Jury: "We've gone speechless"]. Press.pl (in Polish). 2 June 2022. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  11. ^ "PX3 2022 Winner - Azovstal - Single Winner". px3.fr. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
  12. ^ Decree of the President of Ukraine from April 17, 2022 year № 256/2022 «Про відзначення державними нагородами України» (in Ukrainian)
  13. ^ "Clarifying note regarding the exhibition at the Ferraté Library". UPC Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. 13 November 2022. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  14. ^ "Art Industry News: From High Fashion to High Art, the Chicest Medium of the Moment Is... Mud + Other Stories". Artnet News. 23 November 2022. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  15. ^ "WBAI-NYC Arts Express". WBAI-FM. 23 November 2022. Retrieved 4 December 2022.

Sources

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