Feedback On April 29, 2025, a public discussion took place in Brussels, dedicated to the participation of Roma citizens in resisting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. The event was organized by the Anti-Discrimination Centre “Memorial” in cooperation with the Ukrainian Centre for Roma Studies at Kherson State University and with the support of the International Partnership for Human Rights (IPHR). The goal was both simple and painfully relevant: to bring to European politicians, human rights defenders, and journalists the living testimonies of Roma—Ukrainian Roma who are not only victims of war but who have taken up arms to defend their loved ones. At the heart of the discussion were two veterans of the Ukrainian Armed Forces: Arsen Mednyk, known by the call sign “Baron,” a senior rifleman and squad commander in the 46th Air Assault Brigade, and Oleksii Panchenko, a driver and radio operator in the 39th Separate Rifle Battalion.
At the start of the event, Arsen recounted how he decided to defend his hometown. He first joined the territorial defense and later became part of the assault forces. Oleksii—a more reserved and older man—spoke about daily life during the war: the lack of sleep, living conditions in dugouts, and what it means to be a Romani soldier among non-Roma comrades.
The event also featured a clip from the documentary film “The War Made Me Who I Am,” produced by Suspilne. The main character is Arsen Mednyk. The film captures not only scenes from the frontlines but also the transformation of a young man who, just three years ago, was an ordinary guy—and has now become a national hero. Joining the discussion was Janush Panchenko, a researcher at the Institute of Ethnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences. A Romani man himself from Kherson region, he was forced to flee his hometown of Kakhovka after the occupation. In his speech, Janush spoke about abductions and attacks on Roma in temporarily occupied territories.
A separate part of the event was devoted to the systemic work of documenting war crimes and the human rights activities of the Anti-Discrimination Centre “Memorial.” The organization’s head, Stefania Kulaeva, presented a number of initiatives—from the animated film “The Journey of Chavoro from Mariupol” to analytical reports like “A Year of War and Displacement,” “Roma of Ukraine: Voices from the Hell of War,” the photo essay “Today, It Seems, There Is No Shelling,” and the long-running project “Roma and War,” launched back in 2015.
This evening in Brussels was more than just a conversation—it was the voice of heroes. It was recognition that Roma are an inseparable part of Ukrainian society—a people fighting both for their country’s freedom and for their rightful place within it.
“Romani soldiers have sacrificed their health in this war, even though their families, mothers, and children are waiting for them at home. Many have given their lives. Roma fighters have already done enough—and even more. And our role, the role of civil society, is to make sure that their heroism is heard and known by as many people as possible” Janush Panchenko concluded. These were the words that stayed with everyone who was in the room that evening.