Assault trooper with call sign Jackson: "I never close my eyes to safety. We are not playing cards here"
Yevhen, call sign Jackson, went to war at the age of 22. With no prior military experience, he immediately became an assault trooper. He is currently serving in the Paragon Company, part of the Timur Special Unit of the DIU (Defence Intelligence of Ukraine).
On the night of 25 February this year, while he was carrying out combat missions at the front, his car was set on fire near his parents’ house in Berdychiv. Yevhen believes this was an act of retaliation for a video he posted on social media, showing a woman in underwear dancing at a club after curfew, on the anniversary of the full-scale invasion.
"I posted a video on my Instagram page showing how people were partying at our local club, Amsterdam, where a girl didn’t exactly present herself in the best light," he says, providing details of the story. "It draws two parallels: the war and this vacation."
At the bottom of the post, there was a caption explaining that its purpose was not to mock anyone or anything like that. The real issue is how we are shaping public consciousness at the cost of the defenders’ sacrifices. It wasn’t about banning entertainment or leisure — it was about the fact that everyone should be aware of their responsibility to those who are protecting them. I started receiving comments like: "Take the video down, now!" I asked, why should I? The response was: "You won’t be laughing. Certain people have already been informed." I didn’t understand who exactly they meant…
- Who exactly wrote those comments? People you know, or strangers?
- For example, a girl I know very well — we’ve known each other for a long time, went to the same school.
And there’s one more thing. On 24 February, it was my nephew’s birthday. Our family was celebrating. That night, my older brother’s wife’s brother was on his way to visit them. He was the one who saw our car on fire. He started banging on the door to alert my relatives. They ran outside. My brother immediately called me and showed me what was happening via video.
- The police have detained a suspect in the arson attack. Earlier, you said there were two of them...
- Yes, a man and a woman. Both local residents. But for some reason, she isn’t being held accountable. The local prosecutor’s office informed the police that they didn’t plan to do it. I still don’t understand why. We’re looking into it. The surveillance cameras clearly show them fleeing the scene together. Even if she wasn’t directly involved in setting the car on fire, she was present at the scene — so why didn’t she call the fire department or the police? That’s a question. The man was detained.
- What is happening to him now?
- The court imposed a pre-trial detention measure, with the option of bail set at 150,000 UAH. I don’t know whether anyone has posted bail. I doubt it.
- Unfortunately, the reality is that there are quite a few cases where vehicles belonging to military personnel are set on fire. It’s done by teenagers or unaware citizens paid by the Russians. Why do you believe your case is connected to the video you posted?
- First of all, the car was bought relatively recently, so it hadn’t drawn any attention. Secondly, he confessed to committing the arson...
- But he could also do it for money, couldn't he?
- I doubt that it was done for the enemy's money. Berdychiv is a relatively small town. Many people here know each other.
- What do you think will happen next with this case?
- I hope that those guilty will be brought to justice. Public attention has helped a lot. Many people know about this incident now, so it's no longer easy to just turn a blind eye to the situation.
- How do you generally perceive these arson attacks on military vehicles? What do they represent to you?
- For me, this is absolutely unacceptable. Do you remember what the commander of the anti-tank battalion of the 3rd Assault Brigade (Oleh Romanov - ed.note ), said about it? That such people should be shot on the spot. But we’re not defending the country at the front to take lives in the rear. We’re defending ourselves from the enemy. Still, people like this must be held accountable — and publicly — so it serves as a lesson to everyone. If civilians in the rear are setting fire to military vehicles, it means they could also betray our positions or fall under the influence of the enemy, who’s trying to destroy the country from within. This only plays into Russia’s hands. That’s why such actions must be stopped immediately.
- This situation reflects the attitude of the rear towards the front. How would you describe those relations now?
- I think they’ve gotten worse. In the beginning, people were more united. But I understand — war is a hard time. Civilians are also struggling with constant air raid alerts, shelling, and strikes. But for the military, it’s even harder. Do you know who really gets it? Those who’ve truly been affected — whose relatives and friends are fighting. But there are also people who don’t even understand what "Glory to Ukraine!" means. They ask why the President doesn’t just sign a peace agreement with Russia to end it all quickly. They don’t look at the situation from another angle — that he’s fighting for all of us on the international stage. He could have said: "No problem, I’ll sign everything, give away the land, let whatever happens to the people happen, and I’ll go relax abroad." But he doesn’t do that. He’s defending the country. Some people just don’t understand this. So yes, we’re in a very difficult period. Of course, it would be easier for the military if society were as united now as it was at the start of the full-scale invasion.
- Why did this happen? Is it just because of war fatigue?
- There are several factors at play. First, people are indeed tired. Second, the enemy is actively working to sow internal conflict within Ukraine. Third, there are dishonest officials. We all understand how it goes — even in the courts, sometimes "one hand washes the other." People see this, get frustrated, and lose faith in the idea that justice exists here. Then come the questions: why are people leaving the country? It’s because they no longer see proper conditions for life here. People don’t just leave their homes and go who-knows-where for no reason.
- Corruption plays a role not only in the issue of Ukrainians going abroad but also in mobilization. For example, a man of conscription age who hasn't yet been drafted reads news about theft even in the defense sector. That demotivates him. What would you say to someone like that to encourage him to join the fight?
- If a person doesn’t want to do it, there’s nothing you can do. I didn’t go because someone asked me — I went because I wanted to protect my family, Ukrainians, and my country. Yes, it gets hard. I get tired. But when I see children in frontline cities, of course, that motivates me to keep defending them. Those who need to be persuaded and pushed to join the army — they do not have the courage to do it. Today, we clearly see where the front line is, where the fighting is happening, and they simply don’t feel the need to get involved. In the beginning, it was different — unclear where things were headed. Back then, those who truly wanted to defend the country stepped up.
- Tell us, by the way, how did you join the army?
- I voluntarily joined with my older brother. On 4 February 2022, I turned 22 years old. A full-scale war started 20 days later.
- What was 24 February like for you? Did you have any sense the day before that a full-scale invasion could actually happen?
- I had no idea that something like that was even possible. When the air raid alerts started, I called my brother. He was still asleep. He said: "Zhenia, what’s wrong — didn’t you get enough sleep or something?" I said: "It’s war! There have already been strikes in Kyiv. Pack your things." He didn’t believe me. A couple of hours later he called back: "It’s true. There’s a war. I’m getting ready." I went to Berdychiv. The next day, we took his wife and their young son to the Polish border so they could get out. By the 27th, we were already in the ranks of the Armed Forces.
- Were you mobilized through the military enlistment office?
- Yes. We were assigned straight to the Special Operations Forces.
- As I understand it, you hadn’t had any military background before that?
- No. I just had some experience handling weapons and some basic tactical knowledge. My brother, on the other hand, had a "white сard,"(certificate of exemption from military service - ed.note) so he could’ve easily left the country. But he chose to stay and go to war.
- Where were you stationed at the beginning?
- In the Kyiv region — Makariv. Then Kharkiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Kupiansk, Belgorod, and many other cities. We’ve been almost everywhere along the front line.
- What were your first impressions of what was happening? What were you thinking about?
- That we had to defend our borders and know where the enemy was. At first, there was an adrenaline. I wouldn't say I wasn’t scared. But we operated with a cool head. Having my brother by my side made it easier in some ways because it gave me support. But it was also harder — because when you're going out on missions with a group of 7 to 14 people, there’s always the chance one of us won’t come back. Still, I understood there was no turning back. We were doing what needed to be done.
- In the early days, even our Western partners did not believe in us. The Russians planned to "take Kyiv in three days". We were not ready for such an offensive. Were you worried then?
- I was certain that Kyiv wouldn’t fall because I saw how people came together — how they stood up to Russian military vehicles and troops without even having weapons. I knew for sure that we couldn’t be defeated. We would fight to the last, but we would never let them destroy our nation.
- Have you been an assault trooper the entire time?
- Yes.
- It’s one of the most difficult and dangerous military roles. Have you ever wanted to switch? The UAV field is developing rapidly, and some soldiers are retraining to become drone pilots.
- I’m constantly developing and can operate in different areas. But I feel more confident when I have a weapon in my hands. I understand that every mission could be my last. Still, with the experience I’ve gained, I know exactly what to do in any given situation. Though yes, in the beginning, it was really tough.
- An assault is contact combat. You’re face-to-face with the enemy. What is that like, psychologically?
- It’s difficult every time. But you understand the main thing it’s either you or them. So you don’t have pity. You just have to do it — that’s all. If you make even a one-second mistake, you may stay on the battlefield forever.
- What is it like to kill a person? Or do you see it more like: I’m facing an enemy who must be eliminated?
- There’s a joke: "I like picking mushrooms." – "Why?" – "Because you have to cut them." (smiles – O.M.)
- Is that about hatred? I recall how on Friday, 28 February, U.S. President Donald Trump said it’s hard to negotiate with our president because he hates Vladimir Putin. That brings up a logical question: what kind of attitude can you have toward those who attacked us and are killing our people — even civilians, including children?
- Let me put it this way: I love killing Russians.
- But there are a lot of them. It’s a country of around 145 million people…
- That’s not a problem. Yes, it’s hard to fight back. But do you remember the saying, "One man in the field is not a warrior"? I believe that one man is a warrior — if he has something worth fighting for.
- Please tell us about a moment from the war that has stuck with you the most.
- We were storming a village in the Kupiansk direction. We took over a house. We held our position there. The visibility was poor that day. One of the Russians apparently didn’t know we were inside and tried to enter through the front door (smiles – O.M.). But the doors were blocked with a beam. He started pushing, trying to force them open. That’s where his fate caught up with him — he was shot. Then the firefight with the others began. One of our guys was killed right there, in the middle of the house. Just a few hours earlier, he’d had breakfast and was offering us something to eat. He’d gone to get some rest so he could relieve us later. But as it turned out, he was killed during the battle…
- You said you've been deployed to nearly every front. Where was it the most difficult for you?
- At the very beginning — near Kyiv, when I didn’t have the experience I have now. I was young and hot-tempered, like a "grasshopper" (smiles – O.M.). I didn’t fully understand what was happening or what I was doing. Now, I can even anticipate how things might play out in different situations.
- How would you describe the enemy? What is the average Russian assault trooper like?
- They’re not stupid. They know how to operate. But I’ll say this: no matter how much they train or how hard they try — Ukrainians are the strongest people in the world.
- And how are they equipped?
- In the direction where we were recently deployed, they had everything. Their logistics are much more efficient now than they used to be. Especially when it comes to drones. They’ve become more skilled in using them, too. That makes it harder for us to move around.
- And they are still digging in, aren't they?
- Yes, that’s their standard tactic. And honestly, it’s a smart one. It’s much harder to eliminate someone in a trench than someone standing next to a tree. But we dig too. When needed, I always do it. It’s my safety. I never close my eyes to it. This isn’t a situation where you can afford to. Like Zelenskyy said: "We’re not playing cards here."
- Speaking of Zelenskyy — we've already touched on the geopolitical situation. For several days now (we're recording this interview on March 3 – O.M.), there’s been ongoing talk about a meeting between the two presidents in the Oval Office. The United States is our strategic partner. What if Ukraine loses that support? (Our conversation took place before the news that the U.S. is suspending military aid to Ukraine – O.M.) How do you, as a soldier, perceive what’s happening on the international stage?
- I’m proud of our president for fighting back the country. He wasn’t forced to accept what others had planned for us. And you’ve seen how quickly European countries stood behind us. I believe that sooner or later, a solution will be found — one that serves Ukraine’s interests.
- Can we continue to fight without American support?
- If you’re afraid of the wolf, don’t go into the forest. Too much has already been sacrificed — effort, health, and the lives of both soldiers and civilians — for us to simply surrender. That’s not going to happen. I’m certain of it.
- French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer have proposed a one-month ceasefire in Ukraine — "in the air, at sea, and in the energy sector." What do you think of that?
- A one-month ceasefire is simply not realistic. Either you resolve everything decisively, or you stand your ground to the end. You know, if you try to build a house based on everyone’s opinion, it’ll collapse immediately. It’s easy to make statements about a ceasefire — but how would that even work? Especially under conditions where people haven’t seen the reality with their own eyes. Remember how Zelenskyy asked Vice President Vance during their meeting whether he’d ever been to Ukraine? And Vance replied that he’d seen Instagram stories. What kind of conversation can you even have after that?
- The commander of the Third Assault Brigade, Andrii Biletskyi, said that talk of a ceasefire demotivates soldiers. In your view, what impact does it have?
- It makes you focus. You can’t afford to relax. That’s simply not possible during a war — no matter what’s happening in politics. Especially when you’re on the front lines.
- We already talked earlier in the interview about how civilians sometimes relax...
- You know, I’m not saying civilians shouldn’t rest. I got comments like, "You were partying at that club yourself!" And I replied, "Of course I was! After everything I’ve been through, you’d probably live there permanently." I don’t go there to take my clothes off or show what a cool guy I am. I don’t drink, do drugs, or smoke. I just go to change the atmosphere, clear my head, meet up with friends, talk. When I get back from combat, I can’t sleep properly for the first few days. I have dreams about assaults. Sometimes I wake up in a cold sweat. The last time I was home, I woke up suddenly and thought, "This house again, it’s cold." But then I felt warmth in my legs. Something didn’t feel right. I thought maybe I’d been wounded. I looked around — turns out I was in my bed. Phew! I went to wash my face and tried to fall back asleep. But usually, it doesn’t work. You just lie there, not knowing what to do.
- That really is a serious problem.
- What really helps me is sports. I’ve been training professionally since I was a kid. My mom took me to karate when I was four, then I switched to boxing — won a lot of awards, became a two-time champion of Ukraine. Then I took up jiu-jitsu, got into mixed martial arts — started competing and won medals there too. Sports, like I said, save me — and help me in my work today. Every time I come back from a rotation, I hit the gym the very next day.
- When you are at home, do you think about the fact that you can return permanently? Do you imagine that first day back?
- Not yet. I’ve thought about it many times, but I still can’t imagine what it would actually be like.
- Are you thinking about staying in the Armed Forces?
- That’s a very serious question that will have to be decided as things unfold. Because I do want to start a family. I wouldn’t want it to turn out like it happened with my brother, who’s barely seen his young son because he’s been at war the whole time. I really feel for families like that. I wouldn’t want the same to happen to me.
Olha Moskaliuk, Censor.NET
Photos and video are provided by the hero
