I lied that I’ve one prosthetic leg, not two

Vasyl Shtefko’s story went viral everywhere in the world in March. He stunned everybody by going to struggle with two prosthetic legs: Vasyl misplaced his legs in 2008. After all, with such particular wants it’s tough, nearly inconceivable, to affix the military. He had been making an attempt to affix the Armed Forces of Ukraine since 2014, however as quickly because the commanders realized about his prosthetic legs, they refused to take Vasyl into their models. Subsequently, he had to make use of a trick.

I WAS HIDING BEHIND EVERYONE SO THAT MILITARY COMMISSAR COULDN’T SEE MY LEGS

After all, beginning the dialog, we flip our ideas again to February 2022. On the time, all the lads in Ukraine stormed navy recruitment facilities, realizing that it was vital to face up for the protection of their homeland. Vasyl Shtefko was amongst them.

– I got here to our navy recruitment middle on the very first day, February 24. However the reality is {that a} navy commissar knew me properly as a soldier, and he would by no means have drafted me. I approached him many instances. I instructed him that I stand firmly on my toes, that I’m an excellent driver, hardy and motivated. However day by day I acquired a refusal from him, so I simply helped there, on the spot, with the transportation of boys or merchandise, water for the navy recruitment middle. After which someday I got here as much as the women and commenced to persuade them: you see, he is aware of me, he would not wish to name me up and he will not. I instructed them that I’ve one prosthetic leg. I can stroll, drive. I’ve good sight and might shoot properly. In brief, I persuaded them to place me on the draft checklist.

After we already lined up for dispatch, I stood behind the boys. I crouched down and hid in order that the navy commissar would not see me – he would have turned me again instantly! And after I received to Mukachevo from my hometown, I did not fear, as a result of no person knew me there. Strangers is not going to say that I’m any totally different from males of my age.

There have been lots of people then. They requested these unsure to go away, however nobody left. Everybody knew why that they had come right here. That is how I joined the military, says Vasyl Shtefko about his crafty for the sake of the military.

The person says that he requested to serve within the 128th Mountain Assault Brigade, alongside together with his boys. That is how he received into the primary mountain assault battalion. Already in a front-line city, he discovered himself in his unit. He stayed there for six months, and now he was transferred to the Zakarpattia area to work as a driver in a navy unit.

WHEN EVERYONE WAS ASLEEP, I REMOVED MY PROSTHETIC LEGS FOR RELIEF

After all, each deception is revealed in some unspecified time in the future. As soon as within the unit, he didn’t inform administration about his particular wants. He says that he anticipated issues from the commander, so he didn’t present his synthetic limbs through the first weeks.

– I used to be first given a GAZ 66. It is fairly an inconvenient automobile for me – it is tall. So I requested the administration to vary it, as it is going to be tough for me to climb and soar off it. They requested me if I had knee issues. Sure, I say, knee, knee, Vasyl remembers a typical case.

However prosthetic limbs have to be eliminated in order that the legs can relaxation. For this, the soldier selected the best second.

– It was fairly straightforward, as a result of we slept with out undressing. It was chilly, so some didn’t even take off their footwear. You cowl your self with a quilt and sleep. I did so. However I want my legs to relaxation from the prostheses. So I waited till the blokes subsequent to me fell asleep and began loud night breathing, after which I took off my footwear and prosthetic limbs, rolled over on one facet, and slept soundly. And within the morning, I received up quicker than others with a view to have time to placed on my prostheses, says Vasyl concerning the specifics of his conspiracy.

And instantly he begins laughing. Oh, he says, I’ll let you know a humorous incident.

– One morning I get up, and my comrade, a person from Svaliava, approaches me and says, “Properly, I nearly had a coronary heart assault final evening due to you!” I ask him what occurred. He says, “I get up at evening and see that your legs are mendacity subsequent to you. And it was quiet inside and outdoors, no explosions had been heard – and your legs are aside!” So, he noticed my prostheses from the facet, as a result of the blanket didn’t cowl them at evening. Frightened, poor fellow! Vasyl Shtefko laughs.

PROBLEMS DUE TO BROKEN SCREW

I ask the navy man how he was lastly uncovered and whether or not he had issues with the commander.

– I used to be uncovered within the third week. By that point, I had already repaired my automobile – I used to be given a ZIL 131, it’s simpler to get in and get out of the automobile. And I see that one thing is fallacious with my proper leg. I appeared on the prosthesis and noticed a damaged screw. I attempted to tug it out – the thread is damaged. I known as my associate to assist me get to a pantry. I’ve the instruments there, I will repair it now. However I couldn’t repair it. I wanted a fastener, so I despatched my associate to an Epicenter retailer to purchase that fastener for the screw. I assumed, he’ll deliver it, I will lubricate and tighten it and it’ll proceed to perform.

However he went to the commander to ask permission for a go to to the Epicenter, and he started to ask me why he wanted to go there. “Uncle Vasia has a damaged screw in his prosthesis,” he stated actually. The commander runs as much as me: “So you have got a prosthesis?!” I say: “Why a prosthesis? Two!” He then started to shout: hand over the weapon, take off the bulletproof vest, get within the automobile and go to the hospital!

We discovered a prosthetist within the hospital, he took a glance and repaired all the pieces for me. Properly, they ask me if I’m going house. No one is speaking about going house, I inform them, my automobile is not completed there, there’s a whole lot of work to do. They let me go, so I left.

The following morning, there was a line-up, as normal, everybody went to the parade floor. The commander pointed at me and instructed everybody that there was a person in our ranks who had come to battle with two prostheses. “I used to be shocked, however we now have such a factor,” the commander stated on the time, Shtefko remembers.

– Did the perspective in the direction of you alter after that — out of your friends, administration?

– They saved repeating: how did you handle to deceive us all? However, I say, I prayed to God day by day that I might not be uncovered and despatched house. As a result of I might not sit at house at the moment! Though I do know that I can’t go in reconnaissance, I can’t go in a dugout both – as a result of it is going to be tough for me to leap out and in. However I used to be given a automobile and I drove. I will be helpful within the military. And I wish to serve and shield my homeland.

AT ONE TIME, MY FATHER ALSO GOT TO THE FRONT ‘BY DECEPTION’

It’s noteworthy that within the historical past of the Shtefko household, that is already the second case when males go to struggle “by deception.” At one time, through the Second World Warfare, Vasyl Shtefko’s father additionally was a volunteer fighter on the entrance, barely mendacity about his age.

– On the time, my father was solely 15 years previous, however he was tall. And other people had no passports, nothing: as he stated, so that they wrote. That is how they took him into the military, says Vasyl.

Vasyl’s father then fought along with the Russians, and Vasyl himself, because it seems, is already combating towards them now.

– That is the way it works. Russians are nasty individuals. I knew this for a very long time, as a result of I spent a very long time working in Russia, like all residents of the Zakarpattia area. However what I realized about them throughout this struggle stunned even me.

Though, you understand, my father instructed me an attention-grabbing story about his struggle. The Russians fought then as they do now: with out sparing their very own troopers. My father was within the military along with a godfather of his baby. And right here is the battle, they advance, and a German machine gunner hits everybody who walks, simply mows them down from the place. And our commanders are chasing their troopers behind with bullets. And the one who lay down on the bottom and doesn’t go ahead in order to not fall from the machine gunner’s bullets, the Russian commander approaches him and orders him to stand up. And people who don’t stand up are shot on the spot. My father and his comrade then checked out one another as if asking one another what to do: in the event that they get up, the machine gunner will kill them, if they do not, the Russian commander will shoot them. They discovered a means out: to shoot the commander. That is what they did. They then remained alive, fought till the victory over the Germans, returned house from the entrance, received married, and had kids.

IN 2014, I WAS REFUSED TO JOIN AIDAR BECAUSE I TOLD THE TRUTH ABOUT MY PROSTHESES

I ask the navy concerning the nuances of serving within the military with two prostheses.

– They’re nearly gone, as a result of I’ve been carrying prostheses for a very long time, they’re like my very own legs. However there’s a sure regime that’s straightforward to observe at house, however harder within the military. At house, I labored, and after I really feel that my legs are drained, I eliminated the prostheses for actually half an hour, rested and continued working. However it’s not like that within the military, and I knew it. However all the identical, I wished to affix the Armed Forces. I wished this since 2014. I went to see our guys in Shchastia, I knew many guys from the Aidar battalion, I actually wished to affix them. They almost accepted me, however then I received a refusal, the corporate officer stated “no”.

However I used to be telling the reality then, and now I lied. Sure, I intentionally deceived the women on the navy recruitment middle. And I do know that they had issues later. However it’s good that there was a publication from the 128th brigade, there have been my phrases of apology to the employees from our navy recruitment middle. I do know that official sanctions weren’t utilized to them due to me. Sure, I perceive that my instance motivated many to affix the ranks of the Armed Forces. As a result of I actually wished to defend my homeland! You see, this horde that’s attacking us has neither conscience nor honor. We now have to cease them, Vasyl Shtefko says.

The person says that his fellow villagers from Kushnytsia, within the Irshava district, supported him within the military. Earlier than the struggle, Vasyl Shtefko was engaged within the removing and sorting of rubbish in Kushnytsia, labored as a sole proprietor and paid salaries to 3 staff. Now, individuals rushed and purchased a “van for Uncle Vasia”. He drives this van even now. He loves the automobile like a girl – he takes care of it, he says, and his father taught him to at all times maintain the automobile so as in order that it drives properly.

THERE IS NO LAW FORBIDNING PEOPLE WITH PROSTHESES TO SERVE IN THE ARMY

I ask Vasyl’s opinion on whether or not motivated individuals with particular wants can serve within the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

– I am unable to let you know for others, everybody has to make their very own choices right here. Sashko, a soldier from our hearth help firm, was wounded by cluster munitions. You virtually can’t be killed by them, however there are various mutilations: legs and arms will be torn off. I do know that he’s presently present process rehabilitation in Germany, they made a prosthesis for him, he’s already on his toes, however he’s nonetheless coaching. He known as me and stated that he was going to return to the military. “They’re stunned,” he stated on the telephone, “and I inform them that we now have one uncle Vasia who served – so he has two prostheses!”

Vasyl Shtefko believes that in such instances all the pieces will depend on the circumstances, in addition to on individuals – not solely on the soldier himself, but in addition on the corporate commander, on the battalion commander, as a result of they take accountability for him. However, Vasyl says, in the event that they know the individual, belief him, see that he’s motivated and might do the job, then why not?

There isn’t a such article within the legislation that prohibits individuals with prostheses from serving within the military, says Vasyl Shtefko. There’s a idea of “restricted suitability” – that’s, an individual can serve, however with out extreme load.

– The battalion commander noticed that I drive, that I’m not afraid of labor. If I’ve to stand up at 4 o’clock within the morning to go, then I am going, and if I’ve to go at two o’clock within the morning, I am additionally going. Everybody puzzled how I may drive vans, as a result of it’s arduous to push the pedals. I defined to them that prostheses are similar to your personal legs, you be taught to manage them over time. Furthermore, prostheses are totally different — there are strange ones, and there are costly, extra practical ones. I used to be provided to have considered one of these now, however why would I rob my nation? I’ve these prostheses for 41,000 hryvnias, they’re good and go well with me, so why ought to I spend state cash and purchase a prosthesis that prices as much as UAH 100,000? he stated.

YOU SHOULD NOT DEMAND PITY FOR YOURSELF

I’m thinking about yet another opinion of Vasyl Shtefko about life with prostheses, as a result of after half a yr of full-scale struggle, we now have a whole lot of crippled boys. For a lot of, it is a psychological trauma that’s tough to deal with. So I ask Vasyl what he would advise such individuals.

– You realize, I knew such individuals even earlier than this huge struggle. Accidents are seen in another way, it will depend on the character, on the perspective of the individual, on the life state of affairs she or he is in, on the help of family and associates.

As soon as I used to be in a sanatorium with individuals like me, carrying prostheses. There was one soldier amongst us, he misplaced each legs within the battles and he was in a wheelchair. So we stand up one morning within the ward, everyone seems to be telling one thing, joking, and he growls: why cannot you cease speaking, I am unable to sleep due to you! And all the pieces like that. We reacted to him with understanding, I even helped him generally, introduced one thing, helped him get out and in of the room on that wheelchair. And by some means he noticed my prostheses. “I did not perceive, you’re additionally with out legs?” I instructed him then to consider find out how to yell at individuals subsequent time. I defined to him, “man, you should not present your self as a hero, as a result of when you proceed to behave like this, you’ll stay alone and offended with the entire world. You’ll be able to maintain your self, and you do not want somebody to do it for you. Not your spouse, not your kids, not your mother and father. They need to have their very own lives, and also you shouldn’t be a burden to them. Care for your self!

There was one other man, and I instructed him the identical factor. And he stated to me: “And what? I get good cash, and my spouse can reside on it!” I do not perceive that. If you happen to want a maid, rent one! Why ought to a girl who loves you undergo? Vasyl Shtefko says.

By the best way, he’s now in his second marriage. He met his present spouse when he misplaced his legs. They’ve a daughter, Sofiika. He says that he didn’t idiot his spouse in his time as he fooled the navy commissar – he instantly instructed her all the pieces concerning the prostheses as it’s.

I TELL YOUNG GUYS THAT THEY SHOULD NOT BE AFRAID OF THE ARMY

Now, within the deep rear, Vasyl Shtefko says that it’s tough for him – due to a counter-offensive, many guys from their battalion, whom he knew, are dying.

– They’ve superior properly, however with such losses, this information can’t be accepted joyfully. We now have many individuals injured and there are lifeless. I do know that additionally they destroyed many Russian invaders there. The fellows despatched me movies: they got here throughout positions with well-prepared Russians – guys almost two meters tall, in full gear, they didn’t surrender… The battles had been powerful, so our guys are proud that they defeated them and cleared their positions. I’m joyful for them, however the dying of my brothers hurts extra. Such guys are younger, they’re simply starting to reside. Serhii, a wholesome, sturdy man, used to come back to me, even after I was in Zaporizhzhia, to restore his automobile. Oh, if I knew then that he would die in that automobile, I might have poured salt into it, he says with ache.

Within the rear, Vasyl Shtefko additionally works as a driver.

– I’m transporting personnel — to the coaching floor, to dispatch. Typically I’m requested to say one thing motivating to the boys. Many individuals are afraid to go to struggle. And that is regular. Solely fools can’t be afraid, as a result of it is a struggle, and a horrible struggle! When guys see me, many say: oh, I examine you, I heard about you. I attempt to calm them down, I say that there is no such thing as a worry in struggle. There’s a job that it have to be fulfilled. If you happen to’re afraid, you will not have the ability to do it, and when you push too arduous, you may die. So simply do your job. However there is no such thing as a should be afraid, as a result of we’re all mortal and also you by no means know the place dying awaits you. However now the time has come after we should defend our homeland. In any other case, we is not going to exist, the enemy will destroy us. And going to the military now isn’t even an obligation, it’s a nice honor for males.

Tetiana Kohutych, Uzhgorod

Photograph credit score: Serhii Hudak