Ukrainian TV Legend Oleksandr Safonov Dies at 83

Oleksandr Safonov Passes Away

According to Главком: Oleksandr Safonov, a renowned Ukrainian television announcer, died on May 16 after a long and difficult illness. Journalist Mykola Kanishevsky confirmed the news. Safonov was 83 years old. His funeral will be held on May 17 at 1:00 PM at the Potash station in the Uman district. He had been a familiar voice and face on Ukrainian TV for decades, shaping the nation's broadcast landscape.

A Storied Career

Safonov worked as an announcer, TV host, and master of ceremonies. His television career spanned 40 years, beginning in 1978 when he moved from Lviv to Kyiv. The program "Aktualna Kamera" (Topical Camera), where he served as an announcer, first aired on January 1, 1979, at 7:00 PM. The announcers' department he belonged to was disbanded in 1994.

In 2009, Safonov underwent an unsuccessful surgery that left him reliant on a wheelchair. He spent his final years in the Cherkasy region, cared for by a distant relative. To support him, a charity concert was organized in 2017 at the Ukraine Palace in Kyiv.

Safonov left a lasting imprint on Ukrainian television. Among his colleagues were:

• Tetiana Tsymbal
• Vasyl Manko
• Svitlana Bilonozhko, a People's Artist of Ukraine who was both his partner and protégé

'Today, May 16, Oleksandr Serhiyovych Safonov passed away. The funeral will be tomorrow at 1:00 PM at Potash station in the Uman district,' said Mykola Kanishevsky.

The death of Oleksandr Safonov is a significant loss for Ukrainian television, as he became a symbol of an era that shaped the country's media landscape. His decades-long work on TV influenced many generations of viewers and journalists. His legacy lives on through his broadcasts, as well as through the colleagues and students who continue the work he started.