Ivan, codename “Khmara”. Surname Rebar Ivan Ivanovych. Vinnyts’ka Oblast. City of Illintsi.
I was on the Maydan. I was there the whole time, from the beginning to the end.
They seized lands, they seized our lands; someone has to go and defend our Ukrainian lands.
A friend of mine calls, he throws around this and that and then, Vanya, Battalion Donbas is being formed in Kyiv. A lot of people from the Maydan are joining.
What me? No, I wasn’t hiding from anyone. I went voluntarily. War is war. Someone had to go.
How did I end up in Ilovaisk? I got an order: “Deploy!” and that’s it. For one day… maybe two.
I was injured on August 24th when our Uncle Pete (Poroshenko, President of Ukraine, 2014-2019 - ed.) was holding a parade.
We cleared the first security checkpoint, then the second, and third. Was it the fourth or fifth checkpoint… I jumped down into the trench, there was a shelter.
They started working me over. I fought back as much as I could until I was injured. Thank you boys, naturally, they covered me.
They’re like brothers now, for life.
We were just getting to Starobeshevo. There was maybe 500 meters left to get to the hospital, they started pummeling us with a Grad [multiple rocket launcher]. I’m lying under some garbage can, hiding.... I’ll never forget the sound of exploding grenades.
The best sedative is, first of all, to be occupied with something, anything. Trying to help the men, in any way you can. If you can’t help much, get a package together and send it.
Throw together cigarettes and coffee – and send it. Do something. This is the best treatment, because you’re helping a brother-in-arms, just like yourself. This is the first line of treatment.
Recuperation is being with the boys from the Anti-Terrorist Operation. Boom-boom, bang-bang and you calm down, you can then go home.
I’m there! I never left, I live this, my wife can tell you. I’m always there.
For me, nothing’s changed. We have to win. Absolutely, we will beat the enemy, the Russian Federation, as well as those who want to occupy us.
Yanyk (Yanukovich, President of Ukraine, 2010-2014 - ed.)ran and hid, “Uncle Pete” has got no place to go. If it comes to it, we can recruit millions. We’ve got hundreds of thousands of weapons at our disposal.