“People need to realize and check on whether their lives are worthy of what our soldiers are doing”

IHOR OLIINYK enjoys film photography, used to play in a band, did tattoos, and painted. However, now he plans to focus on military-related matters and help others develop in this area.

About myself and my interests. One of the principles from the Decalogue of a Ukrainian Nationalist is: “Do not discuss this with whomever you can, but only with whom you must.” — I am quite reserved when it comes to questions or starting conversations. The less I know someone, the less I’ll share with them. I try to be skeptical and can’t immediately be open to people.

I once worked in a photo studio, and I enjoy shooting on film when I’m in the mood. I like that film photos don’t need editing, and you never really know how they’ll turn out. Whenever I go somewhere, I always think about whether or not to take my camera with me.

I also love sports. I used to do workouts, and during my service, when my comrades were working out, it sparked my interest too.

On Motivation. You can always watch someone do something better than you. There will always be someone who does things better. But if all you do is watch, nothing will change. It all depends on how hard you work on yourself. People who excel can motivate you and trigger your competitive instinct, but only your own hard work brings results.

On Military Service and Injury. I had never envisaged myself as a soldier before. But when it came to the decision of whether to go to war, I had no doubts. Civilian life just vanished on its own. A few months before the full-scale invasion, while working at a restaurant, I told myself that I didn’t want to continue in that field—I needed a change. I started learning IT testing. But when the war started, that just became irrelevant to me. Plus, there was a shock to the consciousness: facts, events, news, history—it all turned a new page in my mind.

I really wanted to grow and be taught. We had pretty good training. I’m convinced that the more knowledgeable you are about combat operations and the more you understand the potential consequences, the easier it is to deal with it.

The period of accepting my injury lasted only a few minutes after I woke up in the ICU. I was under medication, couldn’t see out of one eye, but I saw that my arm was gone and thought, “They’ll make a prosthetic, and that’s it.” I didn’t dwell on the loss of my arm after that. It was a pity that my elbow couldn’t be saved. At first, it hurt, and I couldn’t do certain things, but I didn’t get stuck in reflections about the injury.

What irritated me the most in the hospital was the bed. I hate medical functional beds. In Dnipro, the mattress had certain inflatable zones, and because of it, everything hurt. These discomforts overshadowed any unpleasant feelings about my arm.

On Public Attention. Many soldiers with injuries say: “If you want to help, ask if help is needed.” In reality, it’s important to ensure that the desire to help doesn’t turn into control or excessive care. A psychologist once told me that it’s necessary to learn how to properly perceive people’s desire to help and accept it if it’s needed. At the same time, you must know your own limits, so you don’t become too relaxed and can still say “no” when necessary.

On Changes After the War. The war has changed me a lot. Firstly, I realized that I liked it. Secondly, I began to see specific goals that I want to achieve. The biggest change is understanding why this war is happening and what can be expected. Our conflict with the Russians has been going on for many years, it has just been taking different forms. Now, I understand that we have a chance to change everything.

On Sports and Achievements. Sports provide strength, mood, motivation, and opportunities. I enjoy the types of sports where I can truly express myself. At the top of my list is swimming. The longest distance I’ve swum is three kilometers, in a lake. It was a bold swim. My goal is to achieve good, proper technique.

On Happiness and My Source of Strength. I remember what it feels like to be happy, but I don’t constantly exist in that state. It’s impossible to highlight one specific thing as happiness—it’s a deeper concept. A certain feeling of happiness arises when something works out well.

I love visiting my comrades to see the environment and them—it’s where my strength comes from. Or I visit my brother, not in the brigade, but at the cemetery (my younger brother was the first to go to war). I like going there alone, to reflect and check if I’m doing things right. 

We need to realize and reflect on whether our lives are worthy of what our soldiers are fighting for. You can always create a life that satisfies you and brings benefit to others, all while remembering that people are fighting for that life.

Translated by Green Forest English School