Viktor Hurniak

Viktor Hurniak (8 June 1987 – 19 October 2014), also known by the nicknames Gart, Gartik, or Oligarch, was a Ukrainian volunteer fighter in the War in Donbass. He also worked as a photographer for publications such as "UNIAN", "Reuters" and the Ukrainian publication "Insider". He was killed on 19 October 2014 as a result of a wound sustained from a mortar shell.
Biography.
Education.
Viktor attended public school #27 in Ternopil, then the Technical College of the Ternopil Ivan Pul'uj National Technical University.
Work.
He worked for the Ternopil newspaper "20 minutes", edited a Plast periodical "The Blossom of Ukraine" ("Цвіт України"). Headed a Youth Civic Organization "Foundation for Regional Initiatives" and worked as a press secretary for the Ternopil chapter of the political party "PORA".
Family.
Viktor lived in Lviv with his wife Iryna and his daughter Yustyna.
Scouting.
Viktor joined Plast at the age of 14. He belonged to a group "Grey Wolves", which was part of the troop #29 named after Yuriy Starosolskyi. In 2004, he became one of the co-founders and the first troop leader of the troop #77 named after Ivan Havdyda. Later, he joined the "Order of the Iron Spur" Plast fraternity named after Sviatoslav the Conqueror.
Led a scout group "Eagles". Served as Deputy Head for Educational Programs in local (municipal level) and district (regional level) Plast chapters. Directed the communications division of the Ternopil chapter. Organized numerous events and activities, and served as the commander-in-charge of the national (all-Ukrainian) camp "Legion-11".
Anti-terrorist operation.
In the last several months of his life, Viktor served first as a supply volunteer and later as a volunteer fighter in the "Aidar" battalion on the front lines of the War in Donbass. At first, Viktor helped collect funds, purchase and transport the necessary supplies and equipment to the fighters of "Aidar" and other battalions operating in the war zone. In the summer of 2014, he decided to join the ranks of "Aidar".
Viktor died at 10:10 a.m. on 19 October 2014 as a result of a wound sustained from a mortar shell. He came under fire while transporting the wounded troops to safety in the vicinity of checkpoint #32, near the village of Smile, Luhansk region.
Funeral.
On 21 October, Viktor's native city of Ternopil gave him a hero's farewell: hundreds of Ternopilians greeted the funeral caravan at the city limits, to escort Viktor to the building where he had lived for many years and pay their last respects. In the evening, a memorial service was held at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception of BVM.
On 22 October 2014, a memorial service was held at the Sts. Peter and Paul Church in the city of Lviv, after which Viktor was buried at the Lychakiv Cemetery, next to the Plast monument at the site of the Memorial to the Ukrainian Galician Army. Several thousand people came to Viktor's funeral.
Legacy.
The Plast leadership recognized his heroic deed by posthumously awarding Viktor the highest honor - Iron Cross "For meritorious deeds in the national liberation struggle for the Ukrainian state".
Viktor was also posthumously awarded the Order For Courage 3rd grade.
Ukrainian scouts from Ternopil organized sales of self-produced baked goods, arts and crafts, to raise funds for the family of their fallen friend.
On 30 November, a human rights initiative "Euromaidan SOS" announced the results of its "Volunteer prize", recognizing the work of activists in 10 nomination categories. Viktor Gurniak became a laureate in the category "Person of Light".
Creative endeavors.
Photography.
Viktor became interested in photography as a child, when his father gave him a present of his first camera - FED-5 (ФЕД-5). Professionally, Viktor became a photographer in 2005, when his snapshots started appearing in various Ternopil newspapers. In 2007, while hiking in the Crimean mountains, he accidentally witnessed a big fire. His photos of that fire became TOP photos of the week, and for the first time were published in some of the most highly rated publications in Ukraine, including UNIAN. Since that time he started freelancing for this news agency, and since the flu epidemic in the fall of 2009 - for Reuters.
In 2013, Viktor and his photographer friends co-founded their own agency - LUFA. Also, since December 2013, Viktor also worked with the internet publication «Insider». In addition, he reported from the winter Euromaidan protests, and produced a series of photographs about the life of "Aidar" battalion fighters.
Film.
Viktor also participated in several productions of music videos and films as an actor.