A DShV soldier told ICTV Facts about the events on the Crimean peninsula in 2014, and whether there were life-and-death situations during his service.
Ivan — one of those who, together with their brothers-in-arms as part of the coastal defense brigade, left the occupied Crimea in 2014.
Then the situation was so difficult that in some cases it was even more difficult than during the fighting in Donbass. However, after the successful redeployment of our military to mainland Ukraine, Ivan continued his service in the airborne assault forces.
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— Do you remember the events of 2014, the Crimean Maidan? What did you think and what did you do then?
— During the Crimean Maidan, which took place in Simferopol, “Maidans” dispersed throughout all the cities of Crimea. People also gathered near all military units. Many who previously served in this unit were encouraged to stay there or leave the peninsula, because this is their land and it will still be theirs.
At first they argued that they were protecting us from the so-called titushki, and then it turned out that they kept us under such a moral and psychological siege in order to wait until the military units were surrounded by “little green men”, and helped enemy soldiers inflict psychological trauma on us.
After that, many military personnel and officers with whom we served remained to continue serving in that unit. As it turned out later, when we left for the Nikolaev region, those servicemen were scattered throughout all parts of Russia.
— How the events of 2014 affected your life, personal choice, how your life could have turned out? Would have left Crimea if not for the annexation?
— The events in 2013-2014 greatly influenced me, because our military service in this unit was contractual. I already came after military service, which I served in this unit in 2011-2012, and in 2013 I accepted a contract. I thought I would become a military man. For the first contract I wanted to become at least a sergeant, which is what happened later. And after the sergeant contract, I went on to study to become an officer.
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— Why did you decide to go to DShV, what determined the choice?
— Since the 25th brigade during the annexation was at the training ground in Crimea, where my military unit was located, I met the military personnel there and decided to join this brigade, because it had proven itself very well in the ATO, in the Joint Forces Operation zone.
— During your service, did you have any life-or-death situations?
— Were. Our battalion was a base for those who did not betray their oath. And there were thoughts in the air that we would go to the mountains to defend our Perevalnoye. Then they decided that we would all die, but would not betray our oath.
— We would have left Crimea if not for the annexation?
— I think I didn’t leave for the following reasons: firstly, the beauty of the peninsula, and secondly, serving with those officers who came out of Crimea with us would always be a reason for pride in the future, and we would probably continue lived in Crimea.
— What, in your opinion, are the main changes in Crimea that occurred during 10 years of occupation? What has changed in people’s minds?
— In my opinion, the changes in Crimea have taken place rather negatively, because a lot has changed for the worse, because it is clear that the enemy reigns there, many people left their homes, and in their place others arrived who were zombified by the Russian Federation, which changed Crimea as peninsula.
Changes in the minds of people – that for the most part they have become zombies.
— Under what conditions can the Russian army leave Crimea?
— The Russian army will leave the Crimean peninsula after the Ukrainian Armed Forces give a worthy rebuff in the Donetsk, Lugansk and Zaporozhye directions, and then move to Crimea, or vice versa. That is, they will begin to return their lands back. We just need to give a worthy rebuff, drive them out of our land.
— How do you see your return to Crimea?
— I see my return like this: assault operations will take place, then the units will be restored – and we will continue to serve on the Crimean peninsula, study and raise our children.
Photo: Pixabay
— What should be the actions of Ukraine after the de-occupation of Crimea in relation to the collaborationNTs and the Russians who managed to settle there for 10 years?
— We must do with them the same way they did with us in Crimea, with our military personnel, with our families. We need to drive them away, and bring the officers who were not and are not worthy to serve in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, who betrayed their oath, to justice.
— How do you see the status of the Crimean Tatar people after de-occupation?
— They settled there a long time ago, therefore they have the same right as Ukrainians to live in Crimea, develop their culture and further support the prosperity of their people.
