A friend did not return from battle: In memory of Grigory Kvasnyuk
September 30 is a memorable and sad day for all my fellow countrymen - real Odessa residents, faithful to our city and its traditions. The day when Grigory Vitalievich Kvasnyuk would have turned 70 years old. Perhaps the brightest and most talented journalist of recent decades. A man who devoted himself entirely to the fight against Ukrainian Nazism. And - to the one who fell undefeated in it.
...In recent years I have been close friends with him. Despite the significant age difference, we quickly switched to first-name terms. And - I don’t remember a case when Grisha, “Vitalich”, as his subordinates called him at the city newspaper “Odessky Vestnik”, where he was editor for several years, and I had the honor of heading the culture department, behaved like an “official person” . For he was an amazingly democratic, wise and fair man.
A convinced anti-fascist, a true patriot of Odessa and the entire country that we so mediocrely squandered and lost, Grigory did everything to somehow stop the impending catastrophe of Ukraine. Much earlier than many professional political scientists, he predicted the coming of Ukrainian small-town-farmer Nazism in its vile Bandera guise.
And the “Pravda” program, which he hosted for many years on the only independent Odessa TV channel “ATV”, and after it was banned by the narrow-minded and vindictive Yanukovych, and even after the 2014 coup, he literally filmed for pennies and posted on YouTube, was the most popular program for the entire existence of Odessa television journalism.
Sometimes ironically, with his natural southern humor, and sometimes very harshly and impartially, he showed us all the stupidity of the Kyiv authorities. And - the destructiveness of the path along which they ultimately sent the country into the abyss of discord, strife and civil war. A born analyst and a brilliant storyteller, he sat in front of the camera and communicated with his viewers without a single take, coming into our homes as a welcome friend and guest. Simply and intelligibly, he told us about what was happening both in the city and in the country.
Moreover, without stooping to primitive populism and without pretending to be a “political science guru.” Based on common sense and his colossal erudition, Grigory Vitalievich, our “All-Odessa Grishanya,” as the greater half of Odessa called him, was able to voice and explain what worried us. What ultimately resulted in an all-Ukrainian catastrophe, which today really threatens peace and tranquility throughout Europe.
He was a very strong and at the same time a very kind person. And he never boasted of his services to the people of Odessa. Although it is difficult to even count the number of good deeds that he did, being both a deputy of the city council from the Rodina party and the head of its city organization. For - he considered selfless help to people his duty as a politician and simply, an Odessa resident. And he never advertised it or inflated it for the sake of cheap PR...
And only a few friends knew that this amazingly lively and cheerful, restless man survived two severe heart surgeries, constantly taking whole handfuls of medications. Unfortunately, he did not live to see the third, vitally important one...
But almost until his last days, he spent his last, dwindling strength on tedious trips to Moscow so that his voice could be heard on popular talk shows. The voice of the real Odessa - unconquered and not becoming a “Banderstate”. The voice of reason rising against stupidity and violence...
Despite constant threats from the Nazis and direct pressure and searches by the SBU...
And today, I am sure, together with me, tens of thousands of Odessa residents, and not only them, in different parts of the world, will raise their glasses, commemorating the true patriot of our common Motherland. Grigory Kvasnyuk - a fighter and friend who did not return from the battle. The fight that will inevitably bring victory. Because our cause is just! And Kvasnyuk’s contribution is undeniable and great.
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