MYKHAILO’S STORY

Mykhailo:

The doctors really pulled me through. When I come to the hospital department in Volodymyr to meet them, I feel that they are so close to me, like family. I am fortunate to have met great psychologists along the way.

Andriy:

You were not able to speak. Was it because of a concussion?

Mykhailo:

I was buried under the rubble, but God saved us, and we made it out. I was wounded. I started bleeding from my ears. That’s a completely different story, but I felt there was some higher power watching over us then. 

Andriy:

What do you mean by the higher power?

Mykhailo:

I am talking about God. It’s a miracle: an enemy drone was hovering above me, but it failed to release its payload. I was lying down then. I could only crawl about one kilometer an hour (laughs). I saw a hole in the ground where I was heading, and I saw the drone. I thought it’d strike, and I’d lose my legs, at least.

I am undergoing treatment, and the volunteers I meet along the way are extraordinary people, too. You don’t have a phone – they’d give it to you. You don’t have clothes – they will buy them.

The volunteer movement is a very powerful force. I felt it both at the front and during my treatment at various hospitals. Volunteers carry a huge burden. I wouldn’t be wrong to say that they make up 50% of the war effort. Minimum. Food. Toiletries. Heating. Basic comfort and more.  

The regular combat ration is heavy. It can’t be carried to positions with a drone. The volunteers prepared light, dry food mixes for us, which we could mix with water from the river and eat.

Andriy:

Are you in touch with your boys at the front?

Mykhailo:

I am. We were in touch on Thursday. Yesterday, I received information that they are completely surrounded. It came from a girlfriend of one of my battle buddies. They managed to text each other. There’s no connection; they put their devices on for only a few minutes. They told her they are in full encirclement.

I just took a bunch of pills and blacked out. I can no longer bear such feelings. The psychologist does not let me fix a problem using pills. There are other ways, different exercises, and breathing techniques. But… sometimes I want to have that pill. You can take it and forget about everything. I start panicking if I don’t have one with me.

Andriy:

What do the doctors say? When will the time come when you don’t need them?

Mykhailo:

It’s impossible to foresee. The condition may worsen. Or the symptoms might start to go away. My dosage is being gradually lowered, and they are watching me to check how I react.

The speech therapist told me my condition can’t be treated. You’ve got to live with it. But I can’t give up. I will continue to look for another doctor.

Physically, I’m doing much better. My muscles were all compressed after the blast, but after a round of therapy, I improved a lot. 

Andriy:

Do you have to pay for this treatment out of pocket?

Mykhailo:

You can receive medical treatment paid for by the state, along with affordable medications. If you like it to be more effective, you’ve got to buy better drugs and pay private doctors by yourself.

However, the world is so great. My sister works in a clinic in Slovakia, and it covered some of the costs for my treatment.

Andriy:

Can you explain why it is still important to keep supporting Ukrainians?

Mykhailo:

There’s a saying: God helps those who help themselves. That’s how it works.

Do you want to live? Buy the electronic warfare (for drone protection) by yourself. Or an anti-drone shield cloak. Do you want quality treatment? Buy medications by yourself. Do you want a professional rehabilitologist? Pay by yourself.

When you’re on the frontline, you don’t think about what to buy, how to buy it, or where to get it. You’re thinking about how to stop the enemy from getting past you. Volunteers and your loved ones understand what you need and support you in that way.

Let’s take cars. Volunteers provide them. They are used to evacuate the wounded, deliver food, water, and supply ammunition. It’s all done by regular 4-wheel drive vehicles or self-made buggy cars: rush to the positions, throw the boys in, and make a quick getaway.

That’s the truth. The state provides the food, weapons, and ammunition. I think that’s 50%. Regular people give the rest. We must be united.

What does one need to understand that he’s got to support others? A drone hitting their house? A relative who’s at the front? A neighbor who was killed in the war? That’s when the real understanding comes.

The war will not stop. The enemy won’t stop. Fairy tales about negotiations are for the civilized world. Our enemy is not part of the civilized world. They have different thinking.

They can be influenced by nothing but the force of the blow. I have learned it at the front. As soon as we give them a good beating, they start deserting, refusing to take part in combat, and so on. Nothing happens for a week or two, until they are changed for a new unit. As soon as they arrive, new, relentless assaults begin.

You need resources to deliver this response. This enemy can only understand the language of power.

The recent events (Ukrainian strikes on russian strategic aviation) will produce an impact on them. Of course, it will cause a lot of aggression and some attacks on us, too. However, there is no alternative. That’s the only language they understand.

Andriy:

It’s the understanding that politicians in other countries should have.

Mykhailo:

Civilized people think they can act in a civilized way. You can’t. It is not a civilized enemy. You’ve got to deal with him to understand him.

If Ukraine doesn’t hold, Lithuania, Latvia, and Moldova will be next, immediately. Slovakia and Hungary. It’s where the Russians might capture something in three days, as they had hoped.  

Everyone must be prepared and strong.

Andriy:

What’s your message to those who try to help and those who forget to do it?

Mykhailo:

Big respect to those who try to do at least something. And gratitude. They understand we have something to fight for.

As per those who forget to help, remember to think and filter the information that comes your way. Filter and think critically. Nothing happens if you don’t take action. That’s what our enemy needs.  

Can you donate the cost of one coffee? It’s amazing. If more, it’s even better.

It’s essential to donate to reputable organizations that have been checked. The ones that really communicate with the soldiers. Unfortunately, many organizations take advantage of this situation for their gain.

It’s best to work directly, not with those who gather 50 vehicles to hand them over to the army for media attention. Who are those vehicles really going to? Work with the people who address real needs. Those who buy a vehicle for a soldier because that soldier truly needs it.

Like you helped us with the starlinks, I called you and you responded quickly. It’s most important. It’s very important for connection, and also because that’s how we can let our relatives know we are alive. It helps to be inspired to keep working for victory. As much as we can. The fact that we can do it with the means we have is a miracle. It can’t be done without inspiration. That’s our strength. We are on our land. Once we have more weapons, we’ll show them the real power.

Also, a lot depends on things that are solved at the top. No matter how hard you try at the front, it can become a fiasco if proper decisions are not made.