Main points
- Yaroslav Hrubych, the son of presenter Kostyantyn Hrubych, was seriously injured in the war, lost his arm, and is currently undergoing rehabilitation, planning to return to service.
- Dmytro Kharchyshyn, the son of the leader of the “Druha Rika” band, served as a sapper after the invasion began, and is now taking officer courses and training others.
Children of stars in the Armed Forces of Ukraine / Collage of Channel 24
The full-scale war changed the lives not only of Ukrainian celebrities, but also of their children. Many showed their clear position and became part of the Defense Forces. Some joined the army from the very beginning of the invasion, while others underwent training and chose a specialty before joining the defense of the country.
- 1 Yaroslav Hrubych
- 2 Dmytro Kharchyshyn
- 3 Ivan Pelykh
- 4 Serhiy Kondratyuk
- 5 Vasyl Zinkevich
- 6 Danilo, son of Rimma Zyubina
For the “star children” it was not a way to prove something, but a conscious choice. They are part of a generation that forges its own path and does not rely on the shadow of famous parents. 24 Channel will tell in more detail about the children of Ukrainian stars who joined the army.
Yaroslav Hrubych
In the summer of 2025, host Kostyantyn Hrubych first announced that his son Yaroslav had been mobilized. Before that, the guy worked as a cameraman, director, and videographer. On July 24, it became known that Yaroslav Hrubych had been seriously injured. He came under fire and lost his arm.
I realized that I was alive. I had a concussion. But I was thinking more about the wounded and dead who were nearby. I looked at my hand – it was still hanging, but the bone was gone. I realized that it would not be sewn back together,
– this is how the defender recalled the first hours after the injury.
Yaroslav Hrubych is currently undergoing rehabilitation. He plans to return to military service – a soldier is ready to do what will be most useful.
Yaroslav Hrubych / Photo from Yaroslav Hrubych's Instagram
Dmytro Kharchyshyn
The leader of the band “Druha Rika” said that his son Dmytro studied at the Faculty of Philosophy and despised weapons and war. But after the start of the full-scale invasion, he could not stay away.
At first, the boy served as a sapper in the northern direction. In May, Valeriy Kharchyshyn said that his son is now taking officer courses and training others. The singer emphasized that he does not interfere in his son's service so that others do not have any suspicions.
Valery Kharchyshyn with his son / Photo from Valery Kharchyshyn's Instagram
Ivan Pelykh
The eldest son of Ukrainian presenter Igor Pelikh, who died in a car accident in 2008, is 23 years old. He was studying to be a director, but after the start of the full-scale invasion, he came to the defense of Ukraine.
The guy was in the Kyiv terrorist defense, later fought in the Bakhmut and Kursk directions, and participated in the battles in Lysychansk. In the summer of 2024, he received an award from the Minister of Defense. Ivan Pelykh is the commander of the strike unmanned aircraft complex detachment.
Ivan Pelykh / Photo from Ivan Pelykh's Instagram
Serhiy Kondratyuk
For the first time, Vitaliy Kozlovskyi said that Igor Kondratyuk's son is in the army. Later, the producer himself confirmed this. Serhiy has been serving since September 2023, and is currently in the 46th separate airborne assault brigade. Like all parents, he is worried about his son.
This is a war. But on the other hand, there are no Shaheds flying over the place where my son is sitting now, but there are Shaheds and cruise missiles flying over our house. We can all die in this war, regardless of whether we are sitting on the front lines or at home in Kyiv. This does not mean that I am not worried about him. This means that we are all fighting,
– says Igor Kondratyuk.
Vasyl Zinkevich
The son of legendary singer Vasyl Zinkevych, he began his career as a musician and later worked as a designer. After the full-scale invasion began, he began volunteering and preparing for service by taking military courses.
Already in 2024, Vasyl Zinkevich Jr. decided to join the Third Assault Brigade: first he underwent extensive training, and already at the beginning of 2025 he was assigned to a position. In the service, Vasyl's task is to provide fire support for infantrymen during assaults.
Vasyl Zinkevych with his son / Photo OP
Danilo, son of Rimma Zyubina
Rimma Zyubina's son went to the army consciously. At first, he failed to get into the desired unit, but he did not change his decision. Instead, he began to prepare and work on himself. Danylo voluntarily joined the army in early 2025.
Rimma Zyubina's son / Photo from Rimma Zyubina's Facebook