EXCLUSIVE – Ukraine: “You don’t want to have to survive”, says an officer from the front

Fighting somewhere on the Donbass front, in the cold. This is the only precision that Mykyta, a young senior lieutenant of the Ukrainian army can give about his combat zone. There, he led a formation of six tanks, reduced to four following the Russian bombardments. The lieutenant has to his credit an advance towards Lyssytchanks in the heart of the most disputed area between Russians and Ukrainians. He and his men have been in the heart of the fighting for nine months without interruption.

“We believe in our strength”

The officer agreed to tell this life to Europe 1, between the displayed courage of the fighter and the humanity of a young man plunged into horror. “I’m Chief Lieutenant Ivanov. It’s 1:54 in the morning, and that’s the only time I have to sit down and talk to you,” he begins in his story.

“I am in a slightly indented area, the situation is becoming more and more complicated with the onset of winter. The enemy has mobilized and is already using fresh troops. There are too many opponents on the battlefield. We hold our positions, but it’s very hard. The cold only makes things worse. Despite all these difficulties, my men, the warriors of the Ukrainian army, keep a good level.” , tempers Mykyta.

“Everyone of us knows this: if we don’t stay here, then tomorrow the enemy will be at the gates of our homes. We believe in our strength, and we also want to believe in the strength and support of our brothers and sisters. sisters in Western Europe. As the saying goes, true friends are known in need. I still can’t believe I’m going through all this.” he explains in his long audio recording.

Nine months of war at the age of 22

“I’m only 22, I’ve been through nine months of war, and before that I had only seen war in movies. But now I understand that movies don’t show all of this reality. At 22 years, you want to enjoy life, travel, meet interesting people, but you don’t want to have to survive,” Mykyta continues.

“Trying to survive during the artillery bombardments, the terrible cold when you are sitting in the trenches, or when you are fighting with rats and mice for food in the trenches…”, he blurts out before conclude: “Thank you very much for all your attention. I hope that I will still be here to be broadcast again on your antenna, in the future. Chief Lieutenant Ivanov was with you, while we faced a common enemy. Glory to Ukraine”.