Borysfen Brigade loses press officer killed by remote blast in Kherson

Ukrainian press officer Volodymyr Obertas was killed in Kherson when Russian forces detonated a remote explosive device. The blast occurred while Obertas was assisting journalists with their reporting duties. Army TV, the media outlet for the Ukrainian Defence Ministry, reported the death along with Dmytro Voronov, the former mayor of Oleshky.

Obertas was a native of Oleshky, a city that remains under Russian occupation. Before his military service, he built a local reputation as a photographer and videographer. He filmed kindergarten celebrations, school events, weddings, and city functions in his hometown. Voronov noted that almost everyone in Oleshky knew Obertas because of his visibility in local media.

Voronov, who employed Obertas at his press centre, described the officer as cheerful and friendly. The former mayor stated that Obertas was a master of his craft who taught him the basics of video editing. The two frequently discussed camera angles and the placement of cutaways to create emotional impact for viewers. Voronov recalled that audiences eagerly awaited Obertas' new work on YouTube.

Obertas participated in the defense of Ukraine from the start of Russia's full-scale invasion. Oleksandr Tsehelnyk, a Ukrainian serviceman, said Obertas helped defenders hide weapons on the first day of the war. Tsehelnyk claimed these actions paved the way for the later withdrawal of forces from the left bank of the Dnipro River to the right bank.

Within the armed forces, Obertas initially operated drones. He later joined the press service of the 34th Separate Marine Brigade, known as the Borysfen Brigade. In that role, he documented frontline events and accompanied journalists to hotspots. His death adds to recent reports of Ukrainian losses in the region.

Ukrainian media also reported the death of Oleksandr Chyzhov, a 21-year-old student and serviceman from Kyiv Oblast. Chyzhov was killed in action, according to a separate report on losses. Obertas' death marks the loss of a key figure in documenting the conflict from the Kherson front.