He stood side by side with his father, Oleg, on the outskirts of Kharkiv on the first day of the invasion, watching as column after column of Russian soldiers and armored vehicles attempted to take their city.
He was in charge of a unit during those crucial first hours that, outnumbered and outgunned, attacked Russian vehicle columns, destroyed them, and captured prisoners alive. Eugene would receive the nation's highest military award for this. He started out as a lieutenant in the National Guard and is now a senior lieutenant in the 92nd Mechanized Brigade, which is named after Cossack military leader Ivan S-I R K O from the 17th century. He tells me, "They are my family".
It is a December morning in K U P Y-I A-N S K, 120 kilometers (75 miles) south of Kharkiv. The temperature is 7 degrees Fahrenheit before the howling wind hits you and penetrates every inch of loose clothing or exposed skin. The lines of trees that provided camouflage during the summer are now stark and bare.
A few villages were retaken by Ukrainian forces, but there was little momentum. The summer ended in a deadlock because they were defensive and unprepared. However, a coordinated counter-offensive began in September, beginning in B-A L K-A L-I Y-A and ending in K U P Y-I A-N S K
Eugene's and Ukraine's growing military confidence are inseparable. He was later given the Order of the Gold Star, the country's highest military honor, and a record for his bravery. Given the high casualty rate—Ukraine claims 13,000 of its soldiers have been killed so far in the war—does Eugene fear death?
Eugene has lost many men close to him. However, after giving it some thought, he continues: "I don't think about mortality; I only think about life, my comrades' lives, and the lives of my unit". The person who doesn't fear is already dead. We travel in one of the armored personnel carriers (A-P C) of his platoon.
The vehicle's eight sturdy wheels slip and slide through the mud, swaying us from side to side; two dim lights emit a pale green glow; condensation drips from the metal roof; and the vehicle's roof is covered in condensation. One second, it's a profound sucking soup, the following a thick clay obstructing hardware, burdening boots, and gumming up everything
It is a little miracle, then, that in these circumstances and even with firm obstruction from adversary powers, the counter-hostile is stalled here. Eugene drifts off to sleep inside the A-P C despite the noise. They will be extra saves and extra powers who will assist us with additional offensives.
Prior to the invasion, President Zelensky dismissed talk of war, stating that the nation should remain calm, that Easter would be celebrated in April, and that, come May, the nation would be occupied with sun, holidays, and barbecues, not war. Despite the frigid temperatures, there was an electric, frantic energy in the air. However, the lieutenant maintained his composure. "Call me Eugene", he said in English with a grin
His uniform had a patch that read, "Stop: no eye contact, no talking, or touching". Despite the fact that a large-scale assault on the invading Russian forces had not yet taken place, the weaknesses of Russia's military had been exposed by that time, and western military assistance was beginning to make a difference
They destroyed additional Russian vehicles while being cut off from their command, killing and capturing enemy soldiers. General V-A L-E R-I Z-A L U Z H N Y-I, commander in chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and a close friend of his father, watched as he accepted his awards.
Natalia left Kharkiv as Russian attacks intensified shortly after Oleg's death. She responds, "A month ago for two minutes at the door", and she begins to cry. At any time, day or night, in any weather. She takes a moment to reflect before insisting that she will wait "until victory, only with victory"
You must be logged in to post a comment.