Inside Ukraine: War & Improv with Serhii – Part 1

In Part 1 of our conversation with Serhii Velychanskyi, we follow his journey from civilian to frontline soldier in Ukraine’s 130th Territorial Defense Battalion—where he took part in the defense of Kyiv and the liberation of Irpin and Kharkiv.

Serhii walks us through those early days of the full-scale Russian invasion: the uncertainty, the shelling, and the harsh lessons learned on the ground. But this isn’t just a war story—it’s also about adaptation. Serhii shares how his past life as an improv performer unexpectedly shaped his resilience under fire, and how that mindset helped him—and others—navigate the chaos of combat.

Part 2 continues the story as Serhii transitions into psychological support work, helping soldiers heal through humor, storytelling, and group recovery.

Serhii’s Work

Improv 4.5.0 – https://improv450.com.ua/en

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/sergey_velichanskiy

LinkedIn – https://ua.linkedin.com/in/velichansky

Path to Effectiveness (Ukrainian only) – https://www.skyhorse.ua/product/shlyahy-efektyvnosti/

Also Mentioned

Management in Times of War by Kostiantyn Koshelenko – https://amzn.to/43gNmlW

More from Underground Strategy

Discover Number 788 – https://amzn.to/3BQGmm7

Join the mission – https://undergroundstrategy.com