“I would like this text to be re-posted, copied and translated into different languages. To report it to foreigners and their politicians.

I am not a military man. I never aspired to be a soldier. I am student of historical sciences, a researcher, a museum worker. And a bit of a writer. I have to devote time to researching history, writing scientific and popular science works. And also – art books. Because I like it and it even works.  But lately I’ve been in the military. Because there is a war in my country.

We engage in artillery duels every day, in which one successful arrival of an enemy projectile will turn us into mincemeat.
We sleep in bodies on crates in incredibly cramped conditions, and we wash in warm water once a month. When it rains, we’re wet; when it’s swampy, we’re dirty as hell. And we wash once a month,  and it’s not a fact that next month there will be such an opportunity – let me remind you. And when it was cold, my brothers would freeze their fingers.

We eat when there is a free moment, not when it is time to eat or when we have an appetite. We sleep so irregularly that I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to go back to my standard 11pm to 7am schedule.  At the same time, we are a priority target for the enemy. And they can try to destroy us in various ways, moreover, at any moment.

And thousands of historians, writers, accountants, bank employees, IT specialists, teachers, designers and other completely peaceful professions are currently in Ukraine in similar, if not worse, conditions.

They are being attacked from the 152nd and from Points-U. Bullets, and VOGs, cluster and phosphorous ammunition are flying at them. Some of them have already died. And some of them will never return to their profession because they are burned out. But they all continue to fight. Because behind them stands Ukraine. Because if they lay down their arms, their parents will be killed, their wives and daughters will be raped, and their homes will be destroyed or confiscated.

And when the politicians of France, Italy, Germany and other countries urge us to lay down our arms, accept the loss of territories, provide Russia with some security guarantees (absurd!!! Russia does not need any security guarantees, it is its neighbors who need guarantees against threats from their side )… then I feel a rage and deep disgust. I am disgusted with these worthless people who, because of their prejudices or thanks to Putin’s dirty money, are ready to condemn my country to assimilation, to a slow and painful death. I feel a disgust and rage for those who have enormous opportunities to help overcome this crisis, but instead seek, knowingly or unknowingly, to deepen it. Because even the complete capitulation of Ukraine will not solve the problem of world security. On the contrary, it will push Russia to new conquests.

We do not need offers for surrender. If you are not ready to fight with us against a maddened enemy, then help us with weapons, money, sanctions. We need a lot of things to defeat Russia in order to drastically reduce the level of this global crisis. But we have the main thing – motivation.

We have historians who are ready to sleep either on boxes or for five people on two beds and wallow in the mud for weeks without being able to wash.
We have accountants who are ready to eat only porridge and stew for months.
We have young students who spend their best years under the threat of death.
And they will not go anywhere – unless they are all killed.
With your help Ukraine will fight either until victory or as long as it can resist.
And what will you do?”

Sincerely,
Student of Historical Sciences,
Writer and author of six books,
Currently a Junior Sergeant of the Armed Forces
© Nazar Rozlutskyi