“Ready for war with the Russians,” said Emanuel Bazanji, the Albanian military in Ukraine

In an interview with Top Channel journalist Muhamed Veliu, he explains why he made the decision to join the army of this country, which anxiously waits from moment to moment to be invaded by Russia. “We are ready with the help of the allies,” says Emanuel, “to withstand any Russian attack.”

Muhamed Veliu: Emanuel thank you for this interview with me on Top Channel. How long have you been in Ukraine?

Emanuel Bazanji: Thank you Mr. Veliu as well. Greetings from Ukraine. It’s been almost two years since I lived here in Ukraine.

Muhamed Veliu: How did you go to Ukraine and how did you join the Ukrainian army?

Emanuel Bazanji: My beginnings here have not been directly related to the war. I just came to this country to start a new life, plus to give a helping hand to the Ukrainian people because even during the war in the former Yugoslavia many Albanians remember history, there is no need to repeat it. But many Albanians who have a fresh memory remember what Kosovo and Albania suffered during the conflict in the former Yugoslavia.

Then it happened in Georgia in 2008 the same thing is now happening in Ukraine. Given that the main actor of all this, which is also related to foreign policy, the hegemony used by Russia is violence along with the aggression it exercises against peoples. I am related to Mamuk, he is a veteran of the war in Georgia, a veteran in the war in Chechnya, a veteran of the war in Ukraine and also many members of my group where I am currently where we have close friendships of course, have participated in the war in Kosovo with KFOR and made possible the repulse of Serb troops from the territories of Kosovo. This was my arrival here in Ukraine, officially connecting with Mamuk.

Muhamed Veliu: What are your duties as a military in that formation where you belong?

Emanuel Bazanji: I want to clarify something. Many people have called this the strangest words. We are a ground force of the regular Ukrainian army. The Armed Forces of Ukraine called ZSU. As I said part of the ground force, the motorized brigade. We are bigger than that. The number goes to large numbers. The motorized infantry brigade has the task of advancing the infantry forces, moving and advancing in formations towards faster combat rather than a simple infantry.

Muhamed Veliu: Are there other Albanians or citizens from the Balkans who have joined the Ukrainian army?

Emanuel Bazanji: It is an interesting and beautiful question. There are many Albanians here in Ukraine who are part of the Ukrainian army. Most of them are Ukrainian Albanians, born and raised here. Top Channel in the past has made a very nice documentary about them. They speak Albanian with me when I met them. I am with Albanians here but not immigrants or born in Albania. There are many from the Balkans. There is a boy from Slovenia, Croatia from Montenegro. View are from 27 countries of the world. Most of us who are officially engaged in the Ukrainian army, most of them are American, British, French, Australians, we even had colleagues from Japan.

I want to emphasize the fact that we are in a unit of special importance, an elite part of the Ukrainian army. It is classified as a special operations ward, as it is one of the oldest wards Ukraine has had since the start of the war in 2014 after the Euro-Maidan revolution, when the war began. Let me underline that this ward at the beginning of the war was a trainer. At the same time he was on the front during the war. Now most of the group are from the US, British special forces including NAVY SEALS, SAY or GREEN BERETS and the Georgians are fully trained in the most prestigious institutions, the US military academies.

Muhamed Veliu: Ukraine today is world news. Since you are there on the ground, how close or distant is the Russian occupation?

Emanuel Bazanji: I’m glad that your Top Channel television often deals with this topic. I am happy for this information so that people know what these people are going through here what suffering they have every day. The Cold War is not just a war of words. It weighs people down psychologically. Looking at the faces of the people here, what state Ukraine is in today I think it can be a matter of hours to a matter of days. We do not discuss months. This is based on information brought to us by the Americans and NATO allies.

Muhamed Veliu: How are the people of Ukraine experiencing this threshold of war?

Emanuel Bazanji: It’s a very difficult situation to look at mothers, children, confused people in the city trying to buy everything just to survive. They are taking water and fuel reserves knowing that temperatures here are minus degrees Celsius. Citizens’ lives can be easily endangered during this period where there is certainly a pandemic. There is chaos in people’s minds that the Russians will bomb and strike them. It is a very big fear. I am not talking here about the military aspect. We are here. We have a task. We made a promise to the Ukrainian government because we are all with documentation, contracts. We are a part of this place to help.

Muhamed Veliu: If Russia will undertake the occupation of Ukraine, does this country have the military capacity to defend itself and stop Russian aggression?

Emanuel Bazanji: Ukraine in 2014 after the Euro-Maidan revolution was very devastated since the time of the former Soviet Union. Russia was very happy to see this country’s regular army in that condition. As we speak at this moment in this interview, Ukraine and its military have the capacity to defend themselves. I am very confident that with the help of the Americans, the British and other allies, through whom we have been helped recently, including political support through sanctions against Russia by European countries and the US, Ukraine is capable of withstanding a full-blown attack. This taking into account what assets we have, place modern housing for the population. It is a well-organized structure for this war because there is preparation during these last 8 years for the worst. It’s very good that we have these assets and the ability to defend ourselves.

Muhamed Veliu: How did your family in Albania wait for the decision you made to go to Ukraine and then join the local army there?

Emanuel Bazanji: Believe me Mr. Veliu, this is a very personal question. However I am answering you. Many people who know me in Albania, former colleagues of the armed forces that I had friends with and I share with them many beautiful memories including having a lot of respect for them including all Albanians who will see and read this interview I want to say this . I in this state, in this new life I started here I am alone for the fact that none of my family members are alive anymore, including my little brother. So everything I started here I started for my goals based on the emotional side and that of the heart.

I want to help these people not suffer what Kosovo Albanians suffered during the time of the former Yugoslavia, during the war in Georgia and today on the eve of the war in Ukraine. I have done this also for the fact that Albania is known as a country with positive people who can help and we are not the only ones doing bad deeds in foreign countries. I have tried to dedicate Albania and the medal I received here to all the Albanian people and all the people who have loved and supported me. I am very happy that when they hear the word Albania they say wow Albania is helping us. I tell everyone I meet that Kosovo is also Albania.

Kosovo has also made strong statements to help Ukraine. I am here as an individual, I also have a personal life as I live in this country officially and I have chosen to live here I have not chosen to be part of the Greek, French or American army like many other Albanians. I choose to have my life here and face whatever happens.

Muhamed Veliu: When in Albania, referring to an American media, the news was given about your involvement in the Ukrainian army, there were various comments. I believe you have read. What feelings did they leave you as many of them were in very negative tones towards you?

Emanuel Bazanji: I was not able to read all the comments. Let’s just say I could barely read some of them when I was given the opportunity. Many Albanians have used the most banal insults, which does not leave a good feeling that one Albanian expresses himself like that to another Albanian. Many of them have called my coming here madness. Many others have rated what I am doing here as something illegal. Others have linked it to politics or religion.

I want to tell every Albanian that this has nothing to do with religion or politics. This is because we here are all regular soldiers. We carry out the duties of the country we have chosen to serve and live our lives. Here I am at the moment this is my life and this is what I have chosen. I just felt sad when I read those comments from my compatriots and other comets from foreigners. I did not expect these comments from my compatriots after I spent several years of my life in Albania, except that I left and started a new life, I remember Albania and I miss Albania.

Muhamed Veliu: Emanuel thank you for all these comments in this interview of yours from Ukraine for Top Channel.

Emanuel Bazanji: I also thank you Mr. Veliu for the work you do. I wish all Albanians through you for the best possible health during these times of pandemic to be safe and protected. Greetings to all of you from Ukraine. Thank you.