Mother of a Russian soldier: This is bloodshed

On February 24, Russia launched an offensive against Ukraine. Vladimir Putin called the attack a “special military operation in the Donbas.” Russian soldiers also lost their lives in this war. Often soldiers and soldiers’ relatives do not know until the last minute where they are being sent. Since the start of the war, a month ago, the Russian Ministry of Defense has only twice reported on fallen soldiers. According to these reports, as of March 25, 1351 Russian soldiers have been killed in Ukraine. But in reality they could be 7,000 to 15,000, writes the “Washington Post” newspaper, referring to the high representatives of NATO. The Russian newspaper “Komsomolskaya Pravda” reported on March 20, referring to the Ministry of Defense that the number of killed is 9,861, but the next day removed the article on the grounds that it was related to a hacker attack.

The Russian soldier, Yevgeny, with the rank of sergeant, lost his life in the first days of the war near Kiev, the 26-year-old had never taken part in the fighting.

The mother, Natalia (changed name) lost her son, however justifies the Russian occupation of Ukraine. But Natalya thinks this is a real war and not a “special operation”.

Deutsche Welle has decided to publish an interview with him to tell the experience of a mother who lost her son in the war that Russia is waging with Ukraine.

The protagonist of the interview makes statements about the causes of the war, which are at odds with the current state of affairs. However, DW has decided to leave these statements in the text.

They are evidence of the many years of work of Russian state propaganda.

Deutsche Welle: Natalya, how are you?

Natalya: It is very severe, the pain is great. But I have nothing to do, no one can bring my son back to life.

How did Yevgeny become a temporary soldier?

Right after passing the exams in 2014 he went to the army. He became a specialist in a special unit of the military intelligence service, GRU. He was offered a contract at the time. I somehow managed to change his mind, because the contract meant that he would go to war crises.

He then sought employment with the police and worked for a security service. But he did not like the job, so he got the contract. They accepted immediately and we only had one evening to prepare for the separation. Yevgenij served in the National Guard. He really liked this job and became the leader of the group. He was involved in dispersing demonstrations in Moscow.

In 2017 she gave birth to a son. He had known his wife while working in insurance. She went with him to Moscow, where they got married.

How did the story with Ukraine start?

It was the end of January, around the 25th and 26th. My son got on the phone and said he was going to Smolensk (a city in western Russia, about 80 kilometers on the border with Belarus) to do maneuvers. I said, “Are you lying to me? What are these maneuvers? ”

I searched the internet and saw that there had actually been maneuvers with Belarus, but they were over. I kept searching because I wanted to know where we were having the war. I did not even think of Ukraine. The next day it occurred to me that we were having riots in Ukraine.

Does this mean that you were clear that your son was not sent for maneuvers?

Yes. I told Yevgeny that I was not stupid and that I did not believe he was going to Smolensk. I kept searching the internet and it became clear to me that he was going to Ukraine.

I certainly did not want to stop him from going. I told him that he would probably never return home. He replied: “What is this nonsense you are saying?” He was not at all clear where they were sending him. He had either been brainwashed and made to believe he was going for maneuvers, or he knew where he was going but could not imagine that there would be bleeding. Perhaps no one had thought of this, not even Putin himself.

Did you have contact later?

He left on February 13th. I jokingly asked him what Smolensk looked like and how the food was there. He laughed and told me that everything was fine. We last spoke on February 24, when it all started. On another soldier’s WhatsApp, he told me, “Mom, the war has begun.” I said, “My son, I’m watching him on TV.” He said: “Imagine, a whole company of our boys was killed at the border.” I wanted to know where he was and asked, “Where are you?” “I’m in Smolensk, Mom,” was the reply.

I think he was somewhere nearby, because the flight to that airport (Hostomel near Kiev) could only be done starting from the border. I said, “My son, be patient.”

The answer was: “Goodbye mom. I do not have time. “Tell the woman that everything is fine.” After this moment until March 8 we did not receive any news.

How did you spend two weeks without knowing anything?

I had the phone with me all the time. I watched TV all day and searched the internet. I remembered that I could see his face somewhere. Every day I went to church and lit a candle praying for her. But he had been killed before.

On February 24, Yevgenij was in Hostomel. He was not killed on February 27, as stated in the death certificate, but was killed earlier, perhaps on the evening or night of the 24th at dawn on the 25th of February.

Why do you think so?

I read on the internet that our soldiers received Hostomel on February 24, where the boys had been sent before. They were shot from Kiev. The boys have fallen into the siege and no one has come to their aid. They have been shot and bombed all day. You have to imagine, an airport is an open field.

On February 25 our soldiers took Hostomel again, and on February 26 Yevgeny was found. But the information was only given on March 8th. Around 13.30 we got a call from his unit and they told us that the boy had fallen in a battle near Rostov (Rostov in Don, a city in southern Russia about 60 kilometers from the Ukrainian border) I almost did not I lost my mind.

Near Rostov in Don?

I do not know why they said that. Probably because he was in the Rostov morgue and there was no verified information.

Have you talked to Yevgeny in recent years about Ukraine?

To tell you the truth, no.

Do you know why this war started?

I think if we had not bombed us, the Ukrainians would have bombed us. There was no other choice. But something unpredictable must have happened. Now that so many soldiers have been killed, the war cannot be stopped. The fight must continue until victory.

What do you think Russia wants in Ukraine? What did Yevgeny fight for?

My son has fought for us, for Russia and the Russians. That we call as we are calling, drink and eat as we are drinking and eating. He did not lose his life in vain there, but he lost his life for us, so that we live long and happy, so that there is no war in us, so that bombs do not fall on us.

It is forbidden in Russia to call this conflict war. What do you think, is it a war or a “special operation”?

No, I do not think we are dealing with a “special operation”. This is real war. I am clear that it should not be seen as such, but this is war. It’s bleeding./DW

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