Anatoliy Sukhanov, 54, dies: 'Koleso' actor, teacher and TV presenter
Actor and director of the theater school-studio Anatoliy Sukhanov died on December 27. It is a loss for the stage and for the children who knew him from TV projects — we explain why his role in culture matters more than any single part.
By Tetiana Suchkova-Ladik
December 28, 2025 · 2 min read
Anatolii Sukhanov, a well-known Ukrainian actor and television presenter, died on December 27 at the age of 54. This was reported by the Kyiv Academic Theater «Koleso» and UNN.
According to the theater, on the morning of December 27 he was taken by ambulance in serious condition; at 11:30 the actor died in hospital. Cause of death unknown. The date of the farewell was promised to be announced later.
“On December 27 at 11:30 actor Anatolii Sukhanov died in hospital. In the morning an ambulance took him away”
— Kyiv Academic Theater «Koleso»
Career and influence
Anatolii Sukhanov was born on December 23, 1971, in Kyiv. In 1994 he graduated from the I. K. Karpenko-Karyi Kyiv National University of Theatre, Film and Television as an actor, and in 2006 — as a director and lecturer.
From 2005 he worked at the «Koleso» theater. Since 2020 he was the director of the Kyiv Theatre School-Studio, combining stage work with teaching. On stage he appeared in both contemporary and classical productions; among his notable roles was a part in the play “SkoroVoda” based on a script by Ivan Drach and Vira Melnyk.
In addition to theater, Sukhanov worked on television — he hosted family and children’s programs, including “Enyky-Benyky” and “Lego-Express”, which made him known to younger audiences as well.
Why this matters
Sukhanov’s death is not only the loss of an individual artist. His work as an educator and director of the school-studio influenced the formation of a new generation of theatre professionals. At a time when cultural institutions play a role in preserving identity and a sense of normal life, figures like him carry additional significance.
According to UNN and the press office of the «Koleso» theater, details will become known later; for now it is important to await official information and to respect the privacy of his family and colleagues.
What’s next
The date of the farewell was promised to be announced later. For the theater and the school this will be a time to organize support for students and to coordinate with the family. The memory of his work will live on in productions, in students’ projects and in the broadcasts of the children’s programs where he worked.
This is also a reminder of how important it is to protect the people who shape the country’s cultural space. How the Ukrainian theatre community will rebuild these links after losses is a question not only emotional but also institutional.
