A voice revived through art: AI brings back combat medic Iryna “Cheka” Tsybukh to tell her stories

A powerful fusion of art and technology has brought the voice of fallen Ukrainian combat medic Iryna “Cheka” Tsybukh back to life. The emotional centrepiece of the exhibition Behind The Smile: The Hidden Layers of Ukrainian Medics’ Realities, which premiered at Sweden’s prestigious Artipelag Museum, is a multi-layered portrait painted by Ukrainian artist Maksym Skalatskyi. Yet beyond the visual impact lies an even more moving element — Iryna’s voice, recreated using artificial intelligence.

Just days before the exhibition’s opening, Iryna was tragically killed in action. With most of the audio recordings unfinished, the creative team used AI technology to reconstruct her voice and complete the storytelling she had started. The result: four powerful 10-minute stories, recorded in English, now available on Spotify, where Iryna recounts the rawest experiences of war — grief, hope, duty, and human connection.

Each story corresponds to a hidden layer in her portrait, inspired by the X-ray analysis of classical works, such as Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. While the top layer shows Iryna’s gentle smile, X-ray scans reveal the more profound truths:

1. Zelene Pole — a moment of realization that war affects every living being.
   
2. St. Michael’s Cathedral — the turning point when Iryna decided to take up arms.
   
3. Serebriansky Forest — the story of Myroslav, a wounded father-to-be clinging to life.
   
4. Selydove — where love and death intersect in a soldier’s final moments.
   

This unique blend of fine art, AI, and documentary storytelling sheds light on the invisible emotional toll faced by front-line medics. Often absent from media focus, their psychological well-being is overlooked — something Repower Foundation aims to change. Through recovery programs in Sweden and Denmark, they support Ukrainian medics battling burnout and trauma.

Launched at Almedalen Week, Sweden’s top political forum, the exhibition drew attention from military leaders, ambassadors, former prime ministers, and cultural influencers. Discussions are underway to expand the exhibition to additional European venues.

Behind every smile, there’s a story and Iryna’s story lives on.

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This project was created by the Repower Charitable Foundation with the support of ISAR Ednannia, within the framework of the “Civil Society Sectoral Support Initiative” — implemented by ISAR Ednannia in consortium with the Ukrainian Center for Independent Political Research (UCIPR) and Centre for Democracy and Rule of Law (CEDEM), with the sincere support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

The contents of this release do not necessarily reflect the views of ISAR Ednannia, USAID, or the US Government.