On October 1, as part of the “Hear the Hero” project, a meeting was held with young people from the Donetsk region to mark Defenders of Ukraine Day. The event was organized by the Novogrodivka City Council with the support of the Donetsk Regional State Administration.
Participants in the meeting included Natalia Gontarenko, Acting Head of the Department for the Promotion of Ukrainian National and Civic Identity at the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine; Oleksandr Shevchenko, Deputy Head of the Donetsk Regional State Administration; Lilia Zolkina, Head of the Department of Family, Youth, and Mass Events for National-Patriotic Education; Olga Sidorova, Deputy Head of the Novogrodivka Municipal Administration, as well as representatives of the Donetsk Regional State Administration who personally knew the Hero, educators, and students from the Donetsk region.
The main guest of honor at the meeting was Oleksiy Nazarov—a veteran, military serviceman, and deputy commander of the National Guard of Ukraine’s Special-Purpose Unmanned Systems Battalion.
Oleksiy has worked with children and youth for many years: he was a social educator at the “Emerald City” rehabilitation center in Svyatogorsk, served in the ATO zone, headed a veterans’ center in Sloviansk, and later worked in the field of youth policy at the Donetsk Regional State Administration. Together with his team, he organized dozens of educational camps, patriotic events, and youth projects.
In 2022, Oleksii rejoined the Armed Forces of Ukraine, enlisting in the National Guard. Starting as a regular infantry soldier and special-purpose reconnaissance officer, he went on to establish a drone company, which later grew into the National Guard’s Special-Purpose Unmanned Systems Battalion.
During the meeting, the children actively asked questions and expressed interest in the Hero’s military experience, life, and motivation. Oleksiy sincerely shared his own stories, speaking about his service, his comrades, responsibility, and the power of teamwork.
The “Hear the Hero” project has already brought together nearly 5,000 young people from the Donetsk region. And this is the best confirmation that our youth seek direct, honest, and sincere dialogue with those who defend Ukraine and shape its modern history.
Oleksandr Shevchenko noted: “The ‘Hear the Hero’ project is a vivid example of how national-patriotic education in the Donetsk region has become not just a requirement of the curriculum, but a living, systematic, and ongoing effort. What began as an initiative of the Novohrodivka community, with the support of the regional state administration, has turned into a powerful regional movement.”
The project’s architect, Olga Sidorova, deputy head of the Novohrodivka Municipal Administration, emphasized the project’s importance not only for young people in terms of national-patriotic education but also for the Heroes themselves—veterans and active-duty military personnel.
“When they interact with young people, they open up; they get a brief taste of civilian life, feel genuine support, and—most importantly—have the opportunity to be heard, because that’s exactly what our project is called. They understand exactly who they’re fighting for and what they’re fighting for out there on the battlefield,” noted Olga Sidorova.
Such meetings are important because they help young people not only hear the stories of our defenders but also better understand the value of freedom and the importance of supporting those who are defending Ukraine today.
Thank you, Oleksii, for your service, openness, courage, and the opportunity to hear a hero’s story directly from him.