You probably heard it at least once: Glory To Ukraine! To Heroes — Glory! But who are they — Ukrainian heroes? I want to write few articles to tell you about ordinary people from my life who became real Heroes, real Defenders of our land and the whole Europe, we believe.
Yevhen is a Chief Specialist of Training and Personnel Development of my company. In simple words: he's a corporate trainer and psychotherapist. But it was until 24.02.2022. And now Yevhen quickly retrained himself to a real superhero. And no, that's not an euphemism at all. Just read his story.
Yevhen comes from the Dnipro city, but spends most of the year living with his beloved woman in Odesa. The war found him in his native Dnipro, as Yevhen conducted several days training for the staff of the shopping mall in Kamianske city (which is close).
Yevhen says: "I remember, relatives were calling me until 2 am on February, 24, and everyone had a feeling that the war was about to begin. I reassured them saying that in the 21st century this is impossible, and no need to be scared. Then I went to bed, and at half past four in the morning I was awakened by a call of my civil wife. She told me Odesa was being bombed. I didn't believe her first, started to google... 20 minutes later I saw two missiles in the window, they've hit the Dnipro airport".
After several hours of planning and phone calls, Yevhen headed to the nearest "Epicentr" shopping mall , and this decision was very correct. There was a lack of staff, and the corporate coach had to sit down at the checkout and work as a cashier, organize discounts on goods for volunteers and the military, collect necessary items for defenders throughout the mall.
The next day Yevhen went to enroll to the territorial defense of the Dnipro city, but he was denied and said that the queue is too large. So, he went to the "Epicentr" again — to help as a cashier, and in the evening Yevhen decided to go to Odesa by train: "I was alone for the whole carriage. Nobody tried to leave in the Southern direction anymore, because in Odesa it was too dangerous — everybody was expecting an invasion of russian occupiers from he air."
Being already in Odesa, near beloved ones, Yevhen once again tried to enroll to the territorial defense, but the answer was similar: "The queue is huge, leave the phone number, we will call you."
“Remembering the experience of the anti-terrorist operation in Donbas (I was there to provide psychotherapeutic assistance to the combatants in 2015-16), I knew what exact problems Ukrainian army is facing: there were not enough helmets, bulletproof vests and other things. Plus a coincidence: my friends collected a consignment of humanitarian aid in Poland — 24 tons. But there was no one to deliver it to Ukraine! And so I started organizing this process: I involved the transport department of my company. Many thanks to the head of the department for agreed to help with the truck, although almost all of the company's transport has already been used to help the army," — says Yevhen.
These 24 tons of humanitarian aid (baby food, basic necessities, food, medicine and goods for army) were distributed between the cities of Dnipro, Zhytomyr, Kyiv and Odesa. Then there were new and new batches of humanitarian aid, but Yevhen has already introduced all the participants of the process, the scheme worked, so the guy himself again tried to get to the forefront.
This time Yevhen used his old acquaintances: he called directly to the deputy head of the Police Department in the Dnipropetrovsk region and asked to help to enroll to any armed forces. Because sitting in the rear when you want to defend Ukraine was unbearable. After a telephone conversation Yevhen got in touch with the same deputy head of the Police Department, but in the Odesa region.
The next morning Yevhen and two his friends were already in the deputy's office. Our hero jokes: "All my life I disliked cops, because I was a hard football fan of "Dnipro" FC, and now I am on a voluntary service in the police! Unbelievable."
March, 3, Yevhen was sent to the newly created Public Group for the Protection of Public Order "Crystal" at the Police Department in Odesa region. "Crystal" was formed from ATO veterans, former and current law enforcement officers and plus-minus trained volunteers.
"We received weapons, bought to ourselves uniforms, and together with the police began to accomplish special tasks: protection of structural facilities, night and day patrols, departures to the alleged location of the enemy. On March, 27, we all joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine, namely – the 126th Brigade, 245th Battalion, 4th Special squadron. At the moment, I am already a member of the Special Battalion of the 126th Brigade, and it is called "Tsunami". The chevrons have just appeared. We have combat departures in the southern direction — as part of sniper deuces. But most of the tasks consist in capturing saboteurs, including those who have just entered Ukraine's territory and armed. Mostly saboteurs are russians or Moldovan citizens, but with russian passports. We are working, all gonna be alright!” — says the defender with inspiration.
I've asked to Yevhen:
— Is it okay if I post your face uncovered on my social media?
— Sure, russian occupiers should see the face of a man who'll fight them and overcome evil, — he answered.
Yevhen was taken to the special battalion due to his assertiveness and old acquaintances, to the sniper group — due to a hobby: shooting. And, of course, a great desire to defend our homeland. This story is about a man without military experience who did everything possible (and even on the verge of possible!) to be able to serve his country. We are proud of the Hero, and we are waiting to hug him after the victory!