Zharykov Oleh, Codename Zhora. Sniper, since 2014.
I worked construction, redecorations and renovations.
As they say, my whole family was staunchly patriotic. They accepted all of this.
Honestly, I gave them an ultimatum: “Either help or get out of my way.” They helped me.
They started squeezing us out, as they say, from Mnohopolya. They were scared that we could dig in there.
They chased us out into a cleared field, and there they started shooting up the columns. We got lucky, we made it to Chervonosels’ke, dug in and engaged.
Later, at night, three sniper pairs got together and decided on what to do next, retreat or stay.
Because, everyone knew, if they were captured, no mercy was affored snipers. I immediately said: “I won’t leave the wounded.”
Everyone made their own choice. It depended on your conscience, how you would later live with it.
I understood perfectly well, that if I left the wounded, I would not be able to forgive myself for the rest of my life.
On the 30th, during the second half of the day, they were already negotiating. They gave us 5 minutes, or so, to retreat, I don’t remember exactly.
They would just level the village. There were only 2 houses left of the village, and 2 root cellars, in which the wounded and civilians were hiding.
We left that village closer to nightfall, without weapons. We were captured by Russian paratroopers.
We spent the night in the field. The next day they told us to line up.
Soldiers, wounded, women were told to line up separately. They were led out. They said: “Donbas stay where you are.”
Then, after two hours, Motorolla’s men arrived; we were handed over to them. The Russians acted like a security detail.
They asked what they should feed us, what they should give us to drink. They asked because they had nothing, not even for themselves.
Half of them didn’t even know where they were. They said they were sent for training.
We’ve been waiting for you for three days now, Battalion Donbas. We knew you’d be retreating somewhere around here.
In captivity, everyone acted like they didn’t know anything. Everyone said that he was a driver, a medic, cook.
Anything, just not a mortarman or a sniper. They singled out mortarmen and snipers.
Nearly 70 men escorted us into Ilovaisk. There they stuck us in barracks.
A local came by, said something got hit during the fighting. And says to the commander: “I need 10 men.”
We thought he’d give us attitude, like others, that we were torturers, fascists. As it turned out the people were pro-Ukrainian.
They fed us right away, started to give us clothing. Because winter had started, the first snow was behind us. But we were still in summer things.
Heroic people. They said: “What have I got to lose, this is my home, this is my land. What have I got to lose?”
If it happened all over again I would do it again, the same way. I’d go fight, I wouldn’t leave the wounded in Chervonosel’ske, even though I’d know that I would become a prisoner of war. I wouldn’t change anything.
If only everything would end sooner, I’m tired. I’m tired, and so are others, everyone is tired, who is on the front.
Especially the families, they’re tired of waiting.