From a Teenage Protester to a Martyr: Defending Ukraine's Maidan Against Russia

Taras Ratushnyy recalls the haunting phone call he received from his son Roman during the 2013 Maidan Revolution in Ukraine. "I'm fine, we're heading back home with my friends from (Kyiv's Maidan Square). Don't worry and good night," Roman assured over the phone, despite Taras hearing the same voice on the television as his 16-year-old son announced the protesters' intention to storm a building.

The protests in Ukraine symbolized the ongoing struggle between Europe and Russia, and inspired a new generation determined to shape the country's future. At the forefront of this movement was Roman. His political beliefs were influenced by his parents, who were activists and journalists. His mother, Svitlana Povalyaeva, also a writer and poet, participated in the Maidan Revolution with her two sons.

As Roman came of age, the path ahead became clear amidst Russia's illegal annexation of Crimea and the ongoing violence between Ukrainian forces and pro-Russian separatists in the eastern regions.

A young Roman Ratushnyy, who joined the Maidan Revolution at just 16 years old.

CNN

By 2022, he had become a well-known environmental and anti-corruption activist, with a following of supporters and admirers.

Then, Russia invaded Ukraine.

Roman wasted no time in joining the military, following in the footsteps of his father and brother. Nine years after the Maidan Revolution ignited a fire within him, he found himself once again fighting on the front lines for the future of his country and the democratic aspirations of his generation. He was all too aware that he might not make it through this battle. By May of that year, Ukraine was losing as many as 100 soldiers per day, as reported by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

During that month, Roman, who was known for "having a plan for everything he did," according to Taras, wrote his final will and testament on a single sheet of A4 paper, utilizing both sides.

In the document, he outlined his wishes for his funeral, including the ceremony, the music, and the placement of a Cossack cross monument. He also included a quote from one of his mother's poems and expressed his love and dedication to the city of his birth, where his parents and grandparents also hailed from: "Kyiv, I may have died far from you, but I died for you."

Two weeks later, Roman, aged 24, was killed in combat near Izium in eastern Ukraine's Kharkiv Oblast on June 8, 2022.

"My son is a genuine hero of Ukraine," Taras shared with CNN during a recent visit to the oak-lined cemetery in Kyiv where Roman was buried. It was the 10th anniversary of the Maidan protests, and Taras had only one day at home before he returned to the battlefield. "He displayed heroism every single day."

Taras Ratushnyy visits the grave of his son Roman, in a cemetery in Kyiv, Ukraine, in November 2023.

CNN

Fighting for a European future

The Maidan protests were triggered by Ukraine's former President Viktor Yanukovych's sudden decision to cancel a trade agreement with the European Union. Those in favor of the deal had anticipated that it would lead Ukraine towards the West, stimulate economic advancement, and facilitate open trade borders. However, Yanukovych, who was aligned with pro-Russia sentiments, veered towards Moscow, forging new agreements with Vladimir Putin, consequently diminishing the opposition's aspirations for stronger connections with Europe.

Kyiv's Maidan, also known as Independence Square, was filled with thousands of angry demonstrators. The protests grew in size over time, reflecting widespread anger over Yanukovych's policies, government corruption, and police brutality. They also symbolized the movement's aspirations for democracy and alignment with Europe.

Anti-government protesters clash with riot police outside the parliament building in Kyiv, Ukraine, on February 18, 2014, during the Maidan Revolution.

Efrem Lukatsky/AP

Roman often found himself caught in scuffles as violence continued to escalate. However, he persisted with determination, displaying an early indication of the idealistic and passionate spirit that his father would later recount to CNN.

In her book on the revolution, history professor Marci Shore remembered asking Roman if his mother was concerned about his involvement in the protests. The teenager responded, "My mother was crafting Molotov cocktails on Hrushevskogo Street."

The crackdown reached its peak on February 20, 2014, when police and government forces fired on the protesters. It is estimated that around 100 people lost their lives during the revolution, which ultimately resulted in Yanukovych being removed from power and forced into exile from Ukraine.

The movement set off a series of events that would disrupt Ukraine for years, leading to the annexation of Crimea and ongoing conflict near Russia's border. However, it also sparked a wave of government reforms and inspired hope among a generation of young Ukrainians seeking change.

My youth, my life, and my fight

When the war started in 2022, Roman, known for his efforts to preserve a green space in Kyiv, actively participated in the Battle of Kyiv to drive Russian forces out of the capital. He later joined the 93rd separate mechanized brigade, contributing to the liberation of a town from Russian occupation and engaging in combat in Ukraine's northeastern Sumy Oblast.

A photo posted on Instagram by Roman on May 30, 2022, a week before he was killed in action.

CNN

Through it all, he posted occasional Instagram photos of himself and fellow soldiers - at one point posting a poem by the executed Ukrainian intellectual Mykhail Semenko.

Meanwhile, his father made an effort to avoid dwelling on the peril that Roman was facing.

Following Roman's death in June 2022, his body was returned to Kyiv, where the funeral and memorial service drew hundreds of mourners, including the city mayor. At Independence Square, where he had once protested as a young activist in 2013, large crowds gathered to honor him, when his future had seemed so promising.

Crowds of mourners pay their respects to Roman during a farewell ceremony in Kyiv, Ukraine, on June 18, 2022.

The memory of Roman's legacy and the Maidan Revolution continues to resonate with Ukrainians, more than a year later. As the war persists into its second winter and Ukraine strives to join the European Union, these moments from the past remain influential.

The bloc's executive body took a significant step towards its long-held ambition in November, as it announced plans to commence detailed negotiations for membership in the following year.

When CNN visited Roman's grave, two young women came to pay their respects. Several fresh flower bouquets and candles were placed next to his photograph.