Defender of Ukraine Day is a special holiday, and our hero has a direct relationship with it. If we had met by chance, you would never have thought that this seemingly ordinary guy from a working family is a legendary cyborg. On the eve of the holiday we spoke with Oleh Dotsenko about his present life, about friends and plans. And of course we had spoken about the military experience, the real defenders of Ukraine have

«Even when I did not go to the ATO, standing in the uniform and waited for a friend, one and only guy came up to me and shook a hand with me. I asked, «For what? I have not gone anywhere yet, only at the training ground I was.» He replied: «Nothing. Thank you». Now, not everyone understands why all this is important. Especially young people. It seems to me that they have do not care that somewhere the war goes and someone is at war. Maybe unless their friends are there or relatives, but to others, it seems to be somehow this way»

«I don’t know if I would go again. Well, maybe … I don’t know, I’m not used to hiding. Then, earlier, the message came -and I went, but it was then»

«At first it was very scary. The first day is special. More specifically, the first night when we were brought in and we started unloading, and the shelling began. They knew well that they had brought the newcomers, but they had to be intimidated. We quickly jumped out and stuffed into the airport. And it’s dark there, you go groping, you don’t know where. On the posts were moving put a hand on the shoulder of the one who was going «like trains» in front. The first days when you don’t know where to shoot, where to look – it’s scary»

«I was recently at a rehab center and was being treated. You know, bulletproof vests and those loads are a sign. Although only 30 (Laughs) .. I do not feel old, because if you think about old age, you will be like that … We had Batya there, he was somewhere around 50, but nothing, he fought with us normally. Glasses, when necessary, wore, said that he sees badly, but ok, normal with us in the position and went out»

«Before the anti-terrorist operation there were those who celebrated the holiday in the fountains, but after the it I did not see them. It’s different now. They celebrate in the cemetery, then remember their boys and all»

«I have never been abroad, I wanted to travel in the future. I would travel along Ukraine as well, I want to go to Lviv, but somehow I can’t get myself together … Maybe I would work, but it all depends. Someone is fine, but someone is not very good …»

«I was on duty in our 95th brigade. When I came to the anti-terrorist operation, I was asked: «Where did the service go? Oh, 95th brigade, we need that.» Although when I was serving, we were there more touring of duty»

«At the ATO we celebrated the holidays simply-set the table and even there was no feeling of the holiday. A holiday is when with friends, when it is fun … By the way, I celebrated my 25 at the range. I did not believe that we were going to war, everything was thought to be a training … We worked out the situation in a timely manner, got ready, and for us at that time it was all just fun – no one knew that it would be so. And then, when they were on the APC, it was dark, cold, frosty, and they were shooting somewhere. And it is not clear where exactly they are shooting: in us – not in us. That’s when it was scary»

«The new year 2015 was celebrated in the barracks when we left the Donetsk airport. Only nothing was put under the Christmas tree. The main thing is that we came back alive»

«In honor of the Hero of Ukraine, Senior Lieutenant Ivan Zubkov was then named our battalion. Ivan Ivanovich was there until the very last, there he stayed … Immediately after the new year in January 2015, already in the last days of the airport defense, almost all our company was sent on vacation. There were guys left, but a little – in tourings of duty to go. And then one night, they urgently raised the battalion by alarm and sent to the airport for reinforcement. It turns out that thanks to the vacation we stayed alive, and the guys left there forever…»

«When we were just entering Pisky or the airport, we each received a text message on the phone with the message of the following content: «Get out of here. Why did you come here?» I do not know what they wanted, perhaps, wanted to demoralize»

«Without support, it was impossible at all, even if someone alone supports you-so that is ok. Some people believe that if they drink together, they are already friends, but that’s not really so. A friend is the one who will help, cover, pull out from under fire, if necessary. It values loyalty and dedication»

«And also children’s letters and drawings, we glued them on the walls. Those pictures were different, they were painted by children, someone was painting angels. I, like everyone else, had my own icon, but I put one such angel in a bulletproof vest, in my pocket»

«The reaction of people in stressful situations is different. When we arrived at the airport on the first day, we were split over the changes. We went to bed, set our alarm clocks. And when they started firing, they asked: «Oh, this is no longer a training» … And there were those who needed adrenaline, active action. And I do not know if this is good: one such friend of mine after returning a month sat at home and did not go out»

«Once I was on a minibus, there were four of us, and all the WVs(ed.- certificatw of a War Veteran). They showed the ID, and the driver says: «Well, guys, I need to feed myself. You have to pay.» What to say? You do not want to run, because there will be no quiet conversation. And the drivers are different, sometimes quite insolent. «What are you doing», «what are you WVs», «you are so many» or «I did not send you there», such things they say. It offends, because if it weren’t for us, no one would go there quietly … I don’t ask anyone for anything, I just want a normal attitude»

«People rest here, they go to discos. When I came from the war, I was also controversial. At first it was unusual: calm, no shots. I responded to the harsh sounds: a car was coming, something was slamming, and I was falling. It was said that the boys even fell to the ground when the children threw firecrackers, because they thought that the shelling began … There you get used to shelling; when it’s quiet, it means something will happen. This is good here»

«The most valuable award for me is «For Donetsk airport» … I do not know if I will ever tell my future children about this. Maybe unless they grow up, show the photo, say: «Here, Daddy once fought.» And so … Why telling that?»

«My mother kept watching the news when I was in the ATO. When we were sent to the airport, all the news talked about shelling and its protection. But I told my mom that I was just going to a post, that there would be no connection for a week or two. She asked to call, write, but I said I couldn’t. Just not to upset her, because then everyone was talking only about the airport»

«My character is not easy: if I have to argue — I can» (Laughs).

«It’s cool that there are now free rehab centers for veterans of war. This is necessary … I have never personally addressed a psychologist – I feel fine. Although psychologists are different: they learn that you are a veteran of war and begin to make you a «psycho». (Laughs) But there are those who need psychologists, because normall-normally,and then … Especially when they drink,they go mad. Everyone is different»

«I used to draw, well, how to draw – I painted: I chose to draw in my free time, looked and painted. They say it worked out well. Probably because my grandfather drew, even the portrait of his grandmother he created ;my dad also painted well. And I did it well»

As of October 15, Oleh Dotsenko will celebrate the thirtieth anniversary. We are quite sure that everything is brightest for our hero yet to come. Today, with great respect and sincere gratitude, the Zhytomyr.Travel team congratulates all Ukraine’s defenders. We appreciate your feat!