Today, another regional meeting was held as part of the “Hear the Hero” project, timed to coincide with Vyshyvanka Day and Heroes of Ukraine Day. It is symbolic that this meeting marked the conclusion of this academic year—a year of heartfelt conversations, important stories, and lively dialogue between young people and our defenders.
The participants were addressed with welcoming remarks by Artur Nasibyan, Head of the Department of Veterans’ Policy at the Donetsk Regional State Administration; Lilia Zolkina, Head of the Department of Family, Youth, and Mass Events for National-Patriotic Education; Vyacheslav Suprun, Director of the Educational and Scientific Institute of Management and Psychology at the University of Educational Management, Honored Worker of Education of Ukraine, Laureate of the State Prize of Ukraine in Education, and Distinguished Educator of Ukraine, and Olga Sidorova, Deputy Head of the Novogrodivka City Military Administration.
The main guest of the meeting was Danylo Oganov—a veteran of the Russian-Ukrainian war, awarded the Order “For Courage” (3rd class) and the “Defender of the Fatherland” medal, a soldier of the 81st Separate Slobozhansky Airborne Brigade of the Airborne Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Despite severe injuries and a difficult journey, Danylo continues to actively work to support military personnel and civilians, engages in volunteer activities, participates in veteran initiatives, and is a member of the Youth Council under the Donetsk Regional State Administration.
During the meeting, Danylo openly shared his memories, feelings, and life experiences. The young people actively asked questions about military service, fortitude, motivation, and how to keep the faith even in the most difficult moments.
Nearly 500 participants from various communities in the Donetsk region took part in the event. And this proves once again just how important such meetings are today. “Listen to the Hero” is not just a project, but a space of trust and real stories that help young people better understand the value of freedom, foster respect for the Defenders of Ukraine, and raise a conscious generation.
Today, “Listen to the Hero” has become a large-scale movement, with over 3,500 participants from among the students of Donetsk Oblast.
“We’re not saying goodbye: a packed patriotic program awaits you at summer camps, and in the fall we’ll definitely be back for new meetings with new stories,” shared the project’s ideologist, Olga Sidorova.
We sincerely thank Danylo Oganov for his courage, resilience, active civic engagement, defense of Ukraine, and willingness to share his experiences with young people. It is thanks to people like him that the younger generation has the opportunity to hear the truth firsthand and learn from the example of true heroes.
The meeting was organized by the Novogrodivka City Military Administration in cooperation with the Department of Veterans’ Policy, the Department of Family, Youth, and Mass Events for National-Patriotic Education, and the Department of Education and Science of the Donetsk Regional State Administration.
Based on materials from the Novogrodivka City Military Administration