Vasyl Slipak (1974-2016) was a Ukrainian opera singer (bass-baritone), soloist of the Paris National Opera, volunteer, participant in the war in eastern Ukraine, call sign "Myth".
He was born in Lviv. His whole life was connected with singing. At the age of nine, he joined the Lviv State Academic Choir Dudaryk and sang there until 1994. He performed at the leading concert venues in Ukraine and around the world (National Opera of Ukraine, National Philharmonic, Carnegie Hall, Notre Dame Cathedral, concert halls in Canada, Italy, Holland, Belgium, Switzerland, and the Baltic States).
Then he graduated from the Lviv Conservatory. While studying, he participated in many music competitions and projects. In 1997, he successfully passed the audition to join the Paris National Opera. His voice allowed him to start a successful solo career in France and Europe.
For almost twenty years, Vasyl Slipak lived abroad. The singer gave his last concerts on 25-27 May 2016 at the Holy Trinity Church in Lyon (France). Vasyl's favourite aria was the role of Mephistopheles in Charles Gounod's opera Faust. This is where the call sign "Myth" came from, with which Vasyl Slipak fought on the front line. But his favourite song was the tender and lyrical "Moon in the Sky..."
The singer became famous for his volunteer work and numerous charity projects. Back in the early 90s, immediately after the declaration of independence, Vasyl Slipak and his brother Orest were among the first to join the Faith and Light movement, in solidarity with people with special needs.
During the Revolution of Dignity, he had a contract at the Opera and could not fly to Kyiv. However, he became an active participant in everything that was happening in the diaspora: he supported the Paris Euromaidan, constantly sent humanitarian aid parcels to the Maidan, raised money, and organised charity concerts.
When the war in Donbas broke out, he set up a charity organisation called Fraternité Ukrainienne/Ukrainian Brotherhood, helped Ukrainian defenders, met soldiers of the Right Sector Ukrainian Volunteer Corps, and later joined them.
"I missed the Maidan, but I will not miss the war," Vasyl said.
He did not miss the war, just as it did not miss him. He has been to the front three times. The first time he went there was in May 2015. He fought in Pisky near Donetsk airport. He took part in the battles for Avdiivka as part of the 1st separate assault company of the 7th separate battalion of the Volunteer Ukrainian Corps. He returned wounded.
He went to the frontline for the second time in September 2015, to Vodiane, on the contact line, and returned to Paris in October. In June 2016, he went to Donbas again. He planned to stay there for six months. But on 29 June 2016, he was killed in action by an enemy sniper's bullet.
On 30 June 2016, Vasyl Slipak was awarded the Order "For Courage", First Class (posthumously) for personal courage in defending the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, selfless service to the Ukrainian people.
At the same time, he became the first Hero of Ukraine among volunteers. He was buried in the Alley of Heroes at Lychakiv Cemetery in Lviv. Even after his death, Vasyl served as an impetus for change in our country: following his death, Ukraine adopted legislation that treated volunteers as soldiers of the Armed Forces.
Recently, Ukrainian documentary filmmakers Leonid Kanter and Ivan Yasniy made a film Myth, dedicated to the life of Vasyl Slipak. The film will be premiered in Kyiv on 25 January 2018.
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