Sisters in arms. Iryna “Commander”

Iryna joined the Army at the age of 45. In January of 2015 she joined the Azov volunteer battalion. She had moved out of Crimea 2 months prior to that and in 6 months she joined the 24th brigade as a sanitary instructor where she was on combat duty on the frontline, was saving servicemen and was responsible for the health of the brigade. Today she is defending Ukraine as an aerial reconnaissance soldier.

My husband stayed in Crimea and I left with the children. At the time I was working in the medical field and the company sent me to Uzhgorod. There I started going to recruitment centers. When I was refused once again I met some journalists who were making the story about conscription. At the time the third wave of mobilization was happening and bunches of men from Zakarpattia were fleeing Ukraine. The recruitment center kept lying saying no one was leaving and everyone was serving both men and women. Then the reporter turned around to me and said: “Here is a woman, she is going to fight”. It was local TV but all the channels showed the story. My mum didn’t see it but she lives in a small town so people told her.

A powerful impetus for me was witnessing how my friends abandoned their “comfortable” lives and went to war. In my circle, there were people leading a “relaxed” lifestyle, not patriotic at first, but then they joined the fight. I believe that when people with something significant to lose in life go to war, it deserves great respect.

The most challenging part was getting dressed warmly and comfortably. The uniform they issued me when I arrived in the East was five sizes too big. However, the commander allowed me to buy my own clothes, so I purchased ski pants. It wasn’t essential for the uniform to be stylish; the main thing was for it to be comfortable, because who cares about your appearance when you’re on a mission?
Establishing connections with volunteers was also difficult because, after leaving Crimea, I didn’t know anyone. It was also tough when I couldn’t save a soldier. It seemed that when you returned after a battle, everyone looked askance at you, and then you constantly thought you did something wrong.

You must prepare for war. Everything will come in handy. Before joining the army, I would recommend taking all possible courses — from shooting to weaving nets. Recruits somehow think the army will provide them with everything they need, but that’s not always the case. It’s better to buy everything in advance, so your family won’t have to scramble and shout about fundraising. Be prepared for the fact that not all commanders are intelligent. Some are unaware of the situation, some make mistakes, so don’t be afraid to ask questions. Don’t be afraid to take control of the situation. The best scenario is when your comrades are motivated; then it’s 50% success.

During the war, material things lose their importance. I also became categorical — this gray shades between black and white faded for me. Now I know what a person should do in life, what they should pay attention to, and what they shouldn’t. I’ve become more categorical in my dealings with people.

I have no regrets whatsoever. I am convinced that no matter where in Ukraine I would have been at that moment, I would have done the same: joined the army. The biggest motivation for me is the number of already fallen sisters, children, and women.

If before February 24th it could still be “ambiguous,” then after February 24th, everyone should have understood that there is an enemy, and it needs to be destroyed. Those who still don’t understand are not Ukrainians.

“Veteranka” is very important to me. Perhaps after getting acquainted with the organization, I experienced a “rebirth” when I realized that there are “crazy people” like me who join the army not for the money but for principles. Patriotic and principled girls. I’m not aware of any other organizations in Ukraine like that to compare. I also miss the “female veteran jamboree” events; after attending my first one in Lviv, I haven’t missed any.

It’s offensive to me that so many people are not participating in the war. I think that after the victory, the part of Ukraine that fought will return, and those who didn’t will look at them with surprise. I don’t know, but I think there will be discomfort in society due to conflicts between those who were at war and those who were not.

People need to understand that defending the country is our duty. There’s no need to talk about what the country gave you or didn’t give you, who steals or doesn’t steal. No one wants to control the government, so they steal, and then people complain. To prevent theft, you need to control the government. Over time, I realized that I want to change this country. So after the victory, I will definitely work in politics or in a civic or volunteer organization. I no longer want to work a regular job just to earn money. The army is definitely not my thing. But there’s no choice, it is what it is.

Renata Zhupanin