Oleg Krechun is a Roma serviceman in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

Oleg’s story for your attention:

“My name is Oleh Ivanovych Krechun, I live in the Odesa region, in the village of Starokozache, Bilhorod-Dniester district. I am twenty-two years old, I am not married. I graduated from school (11th grade) and later graduated from the Odesa Railway College, completed an internship and joined the army for conscription on July 21, 2020. When I served and came home, everything was fine, I got a job and started to build my life.

On February 24, when the invasion began, I could not stand by. I could not allow my family to be in danger, so I decided to go back to serve, to defend my family and my home. My family consists of 12 people: father Ivan, mother Alla, four sisters – Stella, Zina, Rima and Lyudmila, five brothers – Ivan, Stepan, Anatoly, Adam and Bohdan. From the beginning of the war, we were not going to go anywhere. Sometimes we were given humanitarian aid, but it happened very rarely. Before the war, my family was engaged in trade when there was a season, and when there was no season, my mother was a housewife, and my father worked in construction. I was in the army at that time. At the moment, there is no work at all, it is very difficult to support such a large family without having a job. When there were the first sounds of sirens and explosions, we were very scared. It all happened like in the movies: sirens, explosions, the basement... Then I caught myself thinking: “I’m really young. I haven’t seen life yet, I don’t have a wife or children. I want to see my family, my children”. I pray to God every day to protect me, my family and all innocent people.

At the moment, I am defending the city of Odesa. I feel better because I can go home once a month. I am satisfied with everything. I am with my family, defending my Motherland. They dissuaded me from the beginning. They did not want me to go to defend the country. Mom said in tears: “Why should my son, whom I raised, go and fight?”

What I remember most during this period was the day when rockets hit the house on Tairove settlement in Odesa, when people died at the recreation center in Zatoka. This is all very bad and scary. It is terrible to lose loved ones. Unfortunately, I am not able to give more information. But I want to say that now it is very difficult for everyone, both for us – military and civilian people who fear for their lives. But everything will be fine, everything will be Ukraine!

Always remain human, help each other at this time, do good! I wish everyone health, patience and, most importantly, a peaceful sky for all of us. Glory to Ukraine!”

Author: Viktor Chovka, EqualNet network

Translation: Anastasiia Tambovtseva, EqualNet network