Ihor Lastochkin’s Military Service
In February 2025, Ukrainian actor and comedian Ihor Lastochkin enlisted in the army, joining the 93rd Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, known as 'Kholodnyi Yar'. He is fighting in the Donetsk region, where he initially served as an FPV drone pilot. However, after six months of service, his battalion was disbanded due to understaffing, and Lastochkin transferred to the role of reconnaissance wing pilot. His training for this new position lasted three weeks, after which he received an officer rank and now commands a platoon of unmanned systems.
Core Duties and Mission Significance
Lastochkin’s primary responsibility is to identify enemy equipment, artillery, and troop movements to relay coordinates. He notes:
“This involves getting airborne, flying beyond the line of combat contact, finding artillery pieces, locating vehicles, identifying concentrations of forces, and spotting motorized groups moving toward our positions.” - Ihor Lastochkin
He also stresses the importance of his missions, as they help neutralize enemy assets that are shelling Ukrainian positions.
Before his military service, the actor was involved in volunteer work and held charity concerts. However, as he puts it, “people stopped coming to our charity concerts. And my resources as a volunteer were exhausted.” Feeling a need to act, he decided to join the military, believing it was his duty: “As a citizen of Ukraine, defending it is, according to the Constitution, an obligation.”
Ihor Lastochkin was born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, and acquired Ukrainian citizenship in 2009. He had the opportunity to choose his brigade and selected 'Kholodnyi Yar'. Notably, fellow service member Anhelina Bezotosna also serves in the same brigade. According to Lastochkin, his new duties involve monitoring enemy vehicle movements and relaying coordinates, which is critically important for the successful execution of the brigade’s objectives.
Lastochkin’s military service underscores the importance of citizen involvement in national defense during wartime. His shift from volunteering to active military duty reflects the growing role of civilians in military operations. In his new role as a pilot of unmanned systems, Lastochkin can not only carry out combat missions but also provide crucial intelligence to command, enhancing the effectiveness of the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ defensive actions.
As Ihor Lastochkin takes on his new responsibilities, it’s worth noting the evolving roles of military personnel in the conflict. For instance, another prominent figure in this sphere is comedian Igor Lastochkin, who has also stepped into a leadership position, commanding a reconnaissance unit in the region. This highlights the crucial contributions of individuals from diverse backgrounds in the ongoing efforts to secure Ukraine's sovereignty.