Viclore

This is part of a series of interviews that I conducted as part of The Chevrons Project.  Olha is a friend of Andrey, also living in Kyiv.

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Olha: So I should tell about when the war started where I was?  What I did?

Vic: Yeah, your name and a bit about what you did.

Olha: Hello I am Olha, I am Ukrainian and I love my country. When the war was started I stayed in Kyiv for two weeks I think, and then went Western Ukraine to my family for 2 months and a half then came back to Kyiv, then lived here just maybe sometimes travelling. In other countries just for a few days, relaxing, and then come back to Ukraine.

I work in critical infrastructure as an analyst. It’s power, electricity company, and I help the army with support. Not volunteer but always helping them like donating, connecting with my friends in the army. I have a few friends there, and one of these friends, he is analysis brigade. This friend he is the husband of my classmate. He went to the army, it was his own decision, he wanted to defend Ukraine. He is signalman, he works like in the army. It is on the Sumy region, his brigade. He has two months of study, maybe 3 months I don’t know, in different parts of Ukraine, in the south, in the Sumy region, and then they stay here in the Sumy region still working with their techniques. They help to see the drones when Russian attacks on Ukraine, like they help to translate it- like to catch the signals.

Vic: The signals that are being sent by the drone when it is attacking?

Olha: Yes one of these, also they are helping- they sometimes have tasks with cars. I know because I was donating for his jar[1], Monobank jar for a car, they took different tasks. And this was a gift from him last Friday, recently, it was my first chevron.

Because I was always supporting them and I made some gifts- some warm clothes for guys. They don’t have women, I asked them. Their brigade don’t have women, I think more like exception because army is full of women. So, I made them a gift and supported them, and he last Friday had visitation and we met with them, and he told me I have something for you as a gift. I didn’t expect this- this is special really for me, my first chevron, it’s like symbol of Ukrainian friends, Ukrainian brave people. So I want it to stay with me always. I save it at home and when I work from home I see it near my notebook[2]. It’s just like a gift, but special gift. I think that I will show this to my children in the future.

Vic: So is that the emblem of his unit?

Olha: Yes. It’s very patriotic symbol, I like it. It’s like Чорноморська Січ, this is more about southern region of Ukraine, but they in the different than there- I don’t know. They stand in different region, yes. This brigade from Sumy region.

Vic: So they’re particularly interested in things like warm clothing? That you’ve been donating to them as well as the work around drones and vehicles?

Olha: If I am donating?  Or what?

Vic: Yeah, what kind of things have you been helping them with?

Olha: Ah yes, for different jars warm clothing I was buying myself as gifts. It’s very important because they stay in very cold places sleeping there, so it’s always useful. If you don’t know what to get them, get them things in the winter like warm clothes. And also some sweets. I gave to them some, that’s good option, they like it. Guys like it.

Interesting story about this guy he found there his friend a cat and even though maybe- like the movie, do you know the movie it was in Britain in London, the cat named Bob I don’t know. So he found a friend cat, and he took him to Kyiv went to the doctor and then he got back with them. This cat is semi streets and semi house. If I took my cat to the veterinary services he go in the box, this cat is walking by his own like a dog. Like I told him cat with the army like, yes.

Vic: How did it make you feel to receive the chevron?  When he gave you the chevron?

Olha: I was amazed, I did not expect, because nobody gave me anything- like I don’t expect anything from the guys ‘cause I feel civilian I should help every day. It is like my responsibility, so I didn’t expect anything and it was like really special one of the most special gifts I think of my life really. And Andrey knows many people that have chevrons, but I don’t. Like volunteers, they don’t have too. I asked to friend how did he get, he told me they can ask for some chevrons for their relatives, their friends and special peoples. Yes, he gave me- for wife I think he took it, but just for few people.

Vic: So it’s very rare that his unit give out their chevrons?

Olha: Yes

Vic: What role do you think that the chevrons play in the war?  Do they encourage people to donate to the military and help?

Olha: I think some category of people yes, it encourages them to donate, but for other people they don’t expect so it’s like wow its very special. It’s a symbol of our fighting in this world, and it will stay with us forever here.

Note: A joint interview between Andrey and Olha can be seen here: Ukraine Interviews: Andrey and Olha

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[1] A commonly used banking app, Monobank, has digital jars which are used for fundraising. People can see how much money is in the jar, the total goal for the jar, and donate to it. People will colloquially refer to fundraisers as jars.

[2] The Ukrainian word for laptop (ноутбук) is pronounced “notebook”, so Ukrainians may call laptops notebooks.