He worked in St. Petersburg, Georgia and Ukraine, including for the St. Petersburg Documentary Film Studio. His projects appeared on Discovery channel, RTR, Channel 5, TV 100 – St. Petersburg, PIK – Georgia, Inter, NTN, Channel 5 – Ukraine, UA First and ICTV.
During the beginning of the War in Donbass, he served in the Ukraine Special Forces[1] and participated in the airport battles in Donetsk, Mariupol, Debaltsevo.[2] Stepaneko was one of the organisers of Defense Mariupol[3] in September 2014.[4] He served in a special operations center after an injury. He was one of the founders of Pirogov First Voluntary mobile hospital.[5] The tasks of the hospital are humanitarian missions to assist military and civilian populations in the conflict zone. During 1.5 years of operation, the hospital assisted about 4,500 patients.
After the service, he engaged in documentary theater. He created war-related productions,[6] trying to understand its causes and the changes in people's minds.[7]
After completing his military service, he founded Production Center ltd, a company engaged in film production, creating series projects for Ukrainian and Russian TV channels. Stepanenko is known for his films about war and peace, including Debaltsevo[8][9] and Reservists, and performances Airport (based on the book by Sergei Loiko)[10] and Kotel.
The director produces documentary films and documentary theater.[11]
He cohosts War and Peace with Yuri Makarov on TV channel UA:Pershiy.
Stepanenko is married and has two children.
