​​The Birthday of Our Martyred Comrade Vladislav Iurchenko (“Pirate”)

Today is the birthday of our martyred comrade, anarchist and internationalist from Russia, Vladislav Iurchenko (“Pirate”). He is 23 years old. He was martyred a little more than a month ago, on August 9, during a landing operation on the Kinburn Spit.

Vladislav was killed when he was still very young, at the beginning of his revolutionary path. But his life, heroic struggle and martyrdom became the approval of the revolutionary line of the Combat Organization of Anarcho-Communists, proclaiming an organized revolutionary resistance and an uncompromising confrontation against the oppressors.

Unfortunately, we did not get enough time to get to know in detail the early stages of the “Pirate’s” political biography. His politicization fell on the period when the anarchist movement in Russia was already weakened by repressions and when to come into contact with the anarchists outside the Internet, especially not in the central regions of Russia, was no longer so simple. Nevertheless, with the help of self-education, Vladislav developed his anarchist beliefs, and when, after the start of a full-scale war, the anarchists in Ukraine tried to organize themselves to fight against the occupiers, he decided to become part of this struggle. “Pirate” felt the whole depth of the injustice and horror of the Russian imperialist invasion, which he wrote about in the letter he left. He carefully followed the BOAC media and was inspired by the example of Dmitry Petrov, whom he never personally knew, but whom he considered a example of a revolutionary. He dreamed to be involved in the case of the martyred hero.

Knowing that there were anarchists in the “Siberian Battalion” of the International Legion, he decided to join this unit in order not only to fight the imperialists, but also to participate in organizational anarchist activities. He arrived in Ukraine in February 2024. Among the other volunteers who arrived with him, “Pirate” was noticeable because of his athletic performances. He was the best in running short and long distances, perfectly performed other physical exercises. He enthusiastically approached military training and helped other comrades. He treated the upcoming battles calmly, always preserving the optimistic, cheerful mood. In general, in any situation, he remained a friendly and kindly comrade, reminding Dima Petrov with this.

“Pirate” was present at the event to mark two years of creation of the “Solidarity Collectives” and this meeting with comrades inspired him, gave him even more enthusiasm. He saw that even in wartime, the idea of creating a new world unites many comrades. The discussions he heard, strengthened him in understanding the war as not only the armed struggle against the imperialists, but the confrontation of all structures and destructive forces that stand in the way of the liberation of all people. The studies of the experience of the Kurdish revolutionary movement also helped him to develop this understanding.

Today “Pirate” turns 23. Like Dmitry Petrov and other martyrs, he lives in our struggle. We carefully keep their dreams of a new, beautiful world, and we continue the path to achieve it.

Şehîd namirin!
Martyrs are immortal!