“Do you know why we cannot accept a territorial compromise with Putin? For the simple fact that the majority of Russians think like him, they believe that Ukraine is theirs and they see this war as a defense against NATO aggression. They are all victims of their own propaganda. That is why we must be strong and defeat them: they must understand that they cannot win with weapons, only then can we talk about peace.”
Major Vadym Shepelenko has nothing of the nationalist fanatic character. As a 45-year-old professor of biochemistry at the University of Dnipro, he would, if possible, return with heart and soul to the laboratories and his students. In 2014, he decided to leave voluntarily to defend Donbass from Moscow’s goals: “I had no desire to delegate the future of our country to others.” Today he is deputy commander of the 128th Infantry Brigade, based in Vilika -Novasilka is concentrated, opposite Donetsk on the way to Mariupol, one of the key sectors for Ukrainian hopes of liberating the occupied territories, lying between the southern Zaporizhzhia region and the eastern Donbass. We meet him in the hospital at the end of a long recovery.
Major, none of your soldiers or your friends believe that it is time to seek an agreement with Putin. Aren’t you tired of having so many dead and wounded?
“You see, it is true that we see dead and wounded every day, it is a difficult war that has been going on for a long time. But I can assure you that no one I know, directly or indirectly, is willing to give up our country in exchange for a peace that would be false and temporary anyway.”
Does no one talk about it in the hospital?
“I haven’t even heard this from seriously injured people, not even from war veterans or their families. We know Russians well, we speak their language, we know how they think, and we are aware that Putin has in no way lost popularity as a result of his decision to attack us. On the contrary, it probably enjoys more support today than it once did. And this awareness makes it clear to us that we have no alternative: we must fight with all our might until victory. Woe betide you if Putin won: he would immediately threaten the Baltic countries and Poland. Unfortunately, if there were to be a ceasefire, it would only be a bracket. This would give the Russians time to regroup and then they would attack stronger and more determinedly than before. I think we Ukrainians would be defeated if there was a second round. Then you will have to fight in NATO. Therefore, you should support us now without hesitation, we will fight for you.”
Are you satisfied with the training you are receiving from NATO to support your counteroffensive?
“I did not do it. But among my comrades, those who attended the courses are not happy. They say that they are only for learning to drive the vehicles we are given. NATO manuals are outdated and do not meet the needs of this war. Their trainers must come to the battlefields in Ukraine, then they would realize that this is a completely new conflict.”
Zelensky is considering holding elections next year. What do you think?
“I do not agree. We must first end the war.”
When do you think you can liberate Mariupol?
“It depends on the help of the allies, maybe next year.”
So peace is still a long way off?
“There are parts of the front that have been standing still for months. The Russians should not be underestimated, I’m tired of hearing that they are demoralized, I don’t see it, they have learned how to use drones very well and have much more of them than us. I am sure of our victory, it will come, but certainly not now, it will take time. I also do not rule out the possibility that Putin will bomb the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant with his back against the wall. Instead, he will not resort to tactical nuclear bombs: they are not needed and China will prevent this.”