Biography

Svitlana Vasylivna Mylchenko was born on March 4, 1992, in the village of Velyka Pavlivka, Poltava region, into a family of teachers. From childhood she was curious and thoughtful, collecting stories from her community and showing an early interest in history and justice. She later studied at the Kyiv National University of Technologies and Design, where she earned her degree and built a professional career.

In Kyiv, Svitlana married, started a family, and became a mother to her son. She worked as a graphic designer and was known for her creativity and dedication.

Beyond her profession, she was deeply involved in civic life. As head of the public organization Zhivi, she led charitable initiatives such as “Help the Homeless,” providing meals to those in need. She also devoted time to archival research, restoring the names of 150 villagers who had been repressed during the Soviet era, and dreamed of creating a Memory Alley in her native village to honor them.

On February 7, 2024, a heartbreaking tragedy unfolded. Russian forces targeted a residential area in the Holosiivskyi district of Kyiv. Svitlana was in her apartment when the building was hit, and a fire broke out. She was killed at the age of 31, leaving behind her husband, young son, parents, sisters, and extended family.

Svitlana Mylchenko is remembered as a bright, compassionate, and principled woman whose life combined professional achievement with selfless service to others. Her legacy endures in the lives she touched, the names she restored, and the family and community who will forever cherish her memory.