b. c. 1980
Mykhailo Dianov
Marine, defender of Azovstal
Two photos of him, one at Azovstal and one after captivity, went around the world. Senior Sergeant Mykhailo Dianov of the 36th Marine Brigade defended Mariupol with a badly wounded arm, survived Olenivka, and once freed gave away 23.4 million hryvnias in donations to treat fellow soldiers.
Key accomplishments
- Volunteer since January 2015, first in the airborne troops, then in the marines
- Senior sergeant of the 36th Separate Marine Brigade; fought in the defence of Mariupol and Azovstal (2022)
- Came home from Russian captivity in the prisoner exchange of 21 September 2022
- Gave the 23.4 million hryvnias raised for his treatment to treat fellow soldiers (October 2022)
Two photos
In the first, a marine at Azovstal with a badly wounded arm. Azov’s press officer Dmytro Kozatskyi took it. In the second, the same man in September 2022, just out of captivity: very thin, his arm in a sling, but smiling and making a victory sign. Both photos went around the world’s media. The man is Mykhailo Dianov.
A volunteer from Ternopil
Mykhailo comes from Ternopil. In January 2015 he went to war as a volunteer, first in the airborne troops and then in the marines. When the full-scale invasion began he was a senior sergeant in the 36th Separate Marine Brigade, defending Mariupol. There his right arm was badly wounded, but he stayed with his comrades at Azovstal.
Captivity
When the defenders of Azovstal laid down their arms, Mykhailo was taken prisoner by Russia. He spent about four months at the prison camp in Olenivka in occupied Donetsk Oblast and lost around 40 kilograms. He later told journalists about the beatings and hunger the prisoners faced. On 21 September 2022 he was freed in an exchange, the same one that brought home the marines’ commander Serhii Volynskyi and paramedic Kateryna Polishchuk.
23.4 million for his comrades
After his release, people rushed to send Mykhailo money for treatment: more than 6.5 million hryvnias on the first day alone. When others offered to pay for his treatment, he decided to give all 23.4 million hryvnias in donations to treat wounded fellow soldiers, and promised to report on every payment.
Why it matters
Mykhailo Dianov’s photos became evidence to the world of what Russia does to prisoners of war. And his choice to give the donations away showed that for a soldier, what matters most is the comrades who still need help.
