Prior to the war, Mukan worked as a journalist and editor at Gazeta po-Ukrayinsky, Krayina magazine and Gazeta.ua. For several years, he co-organised the largest retro festival in Ukraine, Old Car Land, according to the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine.

After the start of the full-scale invasion, Mukan defended Ukraine. On 21 April, he reported that he had been promoted to officer.

"I became an officer of the Armed Forces of Ukraine! I never thought I would be a military officer. But I had the honour to serve during the war and receive the rank of junior lieutenant in the hottest area of the war. I serve the Ukrainian people," Mukan wrote in what turned out to be his penultimate post.

The institute reported that the deceased is survived by his wife Anna and two sons, Andriy and Yaroslav.