How Krym ended up under Bakhmut
When russia occupied Crimea in March 2014, Krym was just a 14-year-old boy. His family had to leave his native Simferopol and move to Kyiv to escape living under occupation.
Before the start of the full-scale war on February 24, 2022, Krym studied, practiced sports and martial arts — judo and sambo. He lived a relatively modest and calm life. February 24, 2022 was a day that changed everything for him. The 23-year-old immediately joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine because he understood that this belligerent neighbor would not be convinced by peaceful means. He decided to take the callsign "Krym" – Crimea in Ukrainian.
Krym has been deployed on the Bakhmut front for three months. He says there is a lack of equipment, which is crucial to start offensive actions.
"The enemy is armed and active. The enemy is not as simple as Ukrainians would like them to be. russists are also learning and evolving," Krym says.
Bakhmut is a city in the east of Ukraine where some of the bloodiest battles of the war have been fought. Hundreds of explosions sound daily, and the enemy throws massive forces in its direction. However, there are still civilians – even children – in the city. The Ukrainian armed forces say their priority is their safety and how to protect them.
In recent months, Krym has already gotten used to army life, but at the beginning of the full-scale war, the most challenging thing was to adapt to it.
"This is a completely different life," says Krym. "At first, it's a little difficult, but then you realize this is your life now: in which the fight against the enemy is a priority."
Krym says that in the army, a person is constantly at attention under any circumstances. However, defenders are human, and such a life can start to take its toll on them.
The young serviceman says that the war showed him that the role of education in life could not be overestimated. "If there is an opportunity, you should study — because theory gives results in practice. Getting into difficult situations, you subconsciously include everything you were taught every second. This allows you to survive in combat."
Krym says that his passion for sports in civilian life also helps him a lot in the army.
"Discipline still helps me on the front line. You constantly keep yourself in good shape and feel you can do more, and act at the limit of possibilities. You feel that you have a core, and you constantly test yourself. It's like a competition with yourself."
"The four of us held the defense"
It doesn't matter if the task is difficult or easy — the soldier must perform them and act, the young defender shares.
"And even if the life of a soldier begins to resemble chaos, when you have a goal in front of you, you pursue it despite everything."
Krym recalls his most difficult experience on the front line, when there was a heavy assault and only four out of 37 soldiers in his unit came out alive. "We did not have enough force and resources, so the operation ended unsuccessfully. The four of us had to retreat and hold the defense. There was no communication with the staff. While waiting for a new team, we had to join the rest of the company. After some time, we managed to contact the staff and received a command to leave."
"I cannot reveal the details — we have a certain ban on commenting on the nuances of our military life. The tasks are different, but we understand that every step brings us closer to the longed-for victory," says Krym.
The young soldier says there is no time to think about anything else on the front line — there, you only think about what to do here and now. You can't stop at the front line — if you freeze up, panic can set in, followed by indecision or helplessness. Constant physical and mental agility are essential for survival.
"You feel the support of the whole nation"
Krym says that when you are at war, it is vital to have the support of your loved ones, but the support of compatriots is no less valuable. The soldier shares that he feels this support daily, and it helps him fight and destroy the enemy that invaded Ukraine and tried to establish their rule in his land.
The feeling that the soldiers are at home on their own land also helps a lot in destroying the enemy:
"This is our land, and we will stand until the end," Krym says.
War changes people. Krym says that during his time on the front lines, he rethought his attitude towards family, friends, and comrades: "You start understanding what death is. When you are here, everything inside changes. But a clear understanding came to me that I want to spend more time with loved ones and relatives, because at one point, I may not have the opportunity."
The more that the war goes on, the more Krym dreams of the day that victory will come. He says the first thing he will do when that day comes is to go home, take a deep breath and say: "I'm home!" surrounded by friends, relatives, and acquaintances, sleepingunder a peaceful sky in a land without war. The defender shares that after victory, he wants Ukrainians to become a more united, strong nation with as few people lost as possible.
Kryms asks Ukrainians to believe in the Armed Forces and support each service member in whatever way they can: with a word, a repost, or by donating. "The support warms your heart. We believe in victory! We will be free under the peaceful Ukrainian sky!"
Author: Iryna Poliska, callsign "Uma Turman"
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