Day 1097. First day of 4th year of the Russian full-scale invasion.

I can’t believe it.

I am a Ukrainian soldier, on a day off today. Lots of time to think before I head out for my next mission at 4 AM tomorrow.

Here is WHY I protect my home and fight for Ukraine’s Freedom. 🧵

People often asked why I fight, joined the Army, or why Ukraine matters to me.

I just wanna live Free and pursue Happiness.

I wrote a book explaining Ukrainians through my lens - through my little personal story of war.

It's on pre-sale now: https://kovyla.pub/dimko

I fight for my friends and family who got killed in action by Russia.

I lost many friends this year. Lost my uncle in combat near Pokrovsk.

Visited many of my friends yesterday at military cemetery in Lviv. Surreal isn’t it? It’s so unfair.

I will give you an interesting perspective on 24th Feb.

I love this day. For me, it’s a symbol of resilience, bravery, and Ukrainian people fighting for their Freedom against all odds.

They are true Heroes with the values they are wiling to protect with blood, sweat and tears.

I joined the Army in 2024 when I was just 25 years old. There, I met many enormously courageous people who fearlessly dive into the suck to save their families from the horrors of war.

That is a privilege to fight together with them, as long as our spirits hold - till the end.

In these 3 years of war, I realized how dear my girlfriend Ira is to me.

We lost friends, lost our minds, lost our faith.

But we lifted each other up and saved each other. In 2024, I proposed to her and we got married. The war bonded us forever.

I fight for her and our LOVE.

We honestly want to have kids and a big family.

We want our kids to never face the amount of suffering we have to face now. We want our kids to never have to fight a war.

War is hell, really. They don’t deserve it. I fight for them to NEVER SEE WAR again.

I never expected to be a writer or public figure. I was just being myself.

This honesty brought tons of international support, helping me through dark times and leading to Dzyga’s Paw - grass-root initiative saving thousands of Ukrainian Defenders' lives.

I fight for you too.

I fight for my Grandma. Her family was deported to Gulag deep in Siberia. She was born there and suffered her whole life under Soviet occupation.

She sees the horrors of Russia now and cries every day.

She does not want us in Gulag concentration camp again.

I fight for my brothers and sisters in Russian captivity.

My company commander from my bootcamp spent a year as PoW in Russia after Azovstal. Didn’t break him.

Many of our guys and girls are still there. Many of our civilains and kids too.

I fight for them, they are my light.

I fight for my future. I want to live FREE, not under Russian occupation that will 100% kill me for being Ukrainian. I fight for my right to be Ukrainian and alive.

pic related - drone detector that might save my life eventually at war. I have to fight for my identity.

I fight to end Russian Empire, once and forever. I don’t want any other nation suffer the same way we did.

They just did too much evil and they will pay for it. I won’t stop saying this ever in my life.

Russia will pay for its crimes.

February 24, 2025 - 3 years of full-scale war, 11 years of fighting against Russia.

I truly believe the empire will fall. We will make it happen.

We keep fighting - for our families, our homes, and our beloved FREE NATION.

Fully committed. This we will defend. ️️️