Serhiy Dmytrovych Prytula ( uk, Сергій Дмитрович Притула; born 22 June 1981) is a Ukrainian public and political figure, who gained his popularity as a TV presenter and actor. Since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine he has focused on fundraising money for the needs of the
Armed Forces of Ukraine
, imports =
, exports =
, history =
, ranks = Military ranks of Ukraine
, country=Ukraine
The Armed Forces of Ukraine ( uk, Збро́йні си́ли Украї́ни), most commonly know ...
. His most famous campaign was People's Bayraktar (and the purchase of a satellite).
Biography
Early life and education
Serhiy was born on June 22, 1981 in the city of
Zbarazh
Zbarazh ( uk, Збараж, pl, Zbaraż, yi, זבאריזש, Zbarizh) is a city in Ternopil Raion of Ternopil Oblast (province) of western Ukraine. It is located in the historic region of Galicia. Zbarazh hosts the administration of Zbarazh u ...
,
Ternopil Oblast
Ternopil Oblast ( uk, Тернопі́льська о́бласть, translit=Ternopilska oblast; also referred to as Ternopilshchyna, uk, Терно́пільщина, label=none, or Ternopillia, uk, Тернопілля, label=none) is an obl ...
.
In 1997, he received 2nd place for the defense of scientific works of the Small Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. Serhiy graduated from school with a gold medal and entered the Ternopil Academy of National Economy (now West Ukrainian National University).
During his studies at the academy, Serhiy was an active participant of several youth organizations. Together with an affinity group, Serhiy established an informal union of “Artists”.
Broadcasting career
In 1998, Prytula passed casting for the position of a broadcaster and in January 1999, he appeared on “Radio Ternopil 106.1 FM” under the nickname Siryi, meaning “Grey”.Sergey Приткула. UEFA: the Dossier /ref>
In 1999, Serhiy paid for a course in one of London's colleges and passed the first exam session externally. In 2000-2001, he studied in
London
London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...
.
Disappointed with studying, Prytula started working. He went through all the stages while working in London: from a builder and loader to a waiter and cook's helper.
Having returned to Ternopil, he occupied the position of Student Dean of the Institute, and resumed work on "Radio Ternopil".
Prytula has hosted the morning show “Pidiom” (eng. “Wake up!”) and the talent-show “Ukraine Does not Believe in Tears” on Novyi Kanal.
From 2017 to 2020, Prytula served as a host of ''
Vidbir
''Yevrobachennia. Natsionalnyi Vidbir'' ( uk, Євробачення. Національний відбір, ; meaning ''Eurovision: National Selection''), informally known as ''Vidbir'', is a Ukrainian musical competition originally organized b ...
Between 2006 and 2009, Prytula was a regular participant of '' Real Comedy'', where he cultivated a sarcastic image from sharply addressing Ukrainian celebrities.
mayor of Kyiv
The Head of Kyiv City ( uk, Київський міський голова, translit=Kyivskyi miskyi holova), unofficially and more commonly the Mayor of Kyiv ( uk, Мер Києва, translit=Mer Kyieva), is a city official elected by popular ...
2019 Ukrainian parliamentary election
Snap elections to the Ukrainian parliament were held on 21 July 2019. Originally scheduled to be held at the end of October, these elections were brought forward after newly inaugurated President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dissolved parliament on 21 ...
with the party Holos, but election results allowed only 17 members of the party to become MPs, while Prytula was 30th. He was a member of the political council of the party from April 2020 until February 2021.
Prytula was the candidate of Holos for the post of
Mayor of Kyiv
The Head of Kyiv City ( uk, Київський міський голова, translit=Kyivskyi miskyi holova), unofficially and more commonly the Mayor of Kyiv ( uk, Мер Києва, translit=Mer Kyieva), is a city official elected by popular ...
Ukrayinska Pravda
''Ukrainska Pravda'' ( uk, Українська правда, lit=Ukrainian Truth) is a Ukrainian online newspaper founded by Georgiy Gongadze on 16 April 2000 (the day of the Ukrainian constitutional referendum). Published mainly in Ukra ...
(11 August 2020) In the election he received less than 8% of the votes (in total he received 56,900 votes), securing third place but losing the election to incumbent Mayor
Ukrinform
The National News Agency of Ukraine ( uk, Українське національне інформаційне агентство), or Ukrinform ( uk, Укрінформ), is a state information and news agency, and international broadcaster of U ...
Ukrayinska Pravda
''Ukrainska Pravda'' ( uk, Українська правда, lit=Ukrainian Truth) is a Ukrainian online newspaper founded by Georgiy Gongadze on 16 April 2000 (the day of the Ukrainian constitutional referendum). Published mainly in Ukra ...
(10 February 2021)
Prytula left Holos in June 2021, but emphasized that he did not leave politics. He claimed the party had "moved so far away from our initial principles."Prytula left the Voice party due to the new leadership
Ukrayinska Pravda
''Ukrainska Pravda'' ( uk, Українська правда, lit=Ukrainian Truth) is a Ukrainian online newspaper founded by Georgiy Gongadze on 16 April 2000 (the day of the Ukrainian constitutional referendum). Published mainly in Ukra ...
Ukrayinska Pravda
''Ukrainska Pravda'' ( uk, Українська правда, lit=Ukrainian Truth) is a Ukrainian online newspaper founded by Georgiy Gongadze on 16 April 2000 (the day of the Ukrainian constitutional referendum). Published mainly in Ukra ...
(28 September 2021) In February 2022, Prytula and supporters stated to collect signatures for the establishment of his new political party, 24 August.
Fundraiser for the AFU
Since February 24, 2022, Prytula has been coordinating a volunteer supply center for the
Ukrainian Ground Forces
The Ukrainian Ground Forces ( uk, Сухопу́тні військá Збрóйних сил Украї́ни), also known as the Ukrainian Army, are the land forces of Ukraine and one of the five branches of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. They ...
and civilian volunteers during the
Russian invasion of Ukraine
On 24 February 2022, in a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War, which began in 2014. The invasion has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths on both sides. It has caused Europe's largest refugee crisis since World War II. ...
.
As of April 2022, Prytula fundraised over ₴200 million to help the
Armed Forces of Ukraine
, imports =
, exports =
, history =
, ranks = Military ranks of Ukraine
, country=Ukraine
The Armed Forces of Ukraine ( uk, Збро́йні си́ли Украї́ни), most commonly know ...
(AFU).
On June 22, 2022, Prytula started the fundraising campaign “ People's Bayraktar” for 500 million UAH for 3
Bayraktar TB2
The Bayraktar TB2 is a medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) capable of remotely controlled or autonomous flight operations. It is manufactured by the Turkish company Baykar Makina Sanayi ve Ticaret A.� ...
for the Ukrainian army, and crowdfunded 600 million UAH in just 3 days.
As of 15 July Prytula had raised for the AFU more than $34 million dollars.
18 of August, 2022 ICEYE signed a contract with the Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation that would give the Armed Forces of Ukraine access to one of its satellites.ICEYE Signs Contract to Provide Government of Ukraine with Access to Its SAR Satellite Constellation ICEYE, August 18, 2022
On 2nd November 2022, The Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundation organised a $5.5m “Grab them all” crowdfunding appeal to buy 50 used ex-British military FV103 Spartan APCs (armoured personnel carriers) for the Ukraine army, a fast small tracked vehicle ideal for muddy and snowy conditions of the frontline in the south of Ukraine. Within a day the money was pledged.
United24
United24 () is a Ukrainian government-run platform launched on 5 May 2022 to raise money for Ukraine in the Russo-Ukrainian War.
History
On 3 May 2022, the Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal announced that a platform for fundraising in supp ...