Life of Mykhailo Zaremba, Hero of Ukraine

YUSUF INAN - INTERVIEW

INTRODUCTION

The life story of Hero of Ukraine pilot Major Mykhailo Ihorovych Zaremba!

Ukraine is paying the price of the Budapest Memorandum, signed in 1994. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has affected more than just one country; it has impacted the entire world and all people. The war has shattered families, taken children from fathers, and left women without husbands. Russian aggression has plunged the world into chaos, bringing pain, destruction, economic instability, and the threat of a global nuclear catastrophe.

The words of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of the Republic of Turkey, "Peace at Home, Peace in the World," are a message to all humanity.

Ukraine and Russia have both similar and distinct cultures, as well as close family ties. Ukraine's population is more monolithic, while Russia's is fragmented, which is typical for states that are essentially empires. Russia is waging a war aimed at the destruction of the Ukrainian population; the aggressor does not need new territories. Russia has made a great mistake for which it will pay for centuries.

Ukraine trusted Russia. After the collapse of the USSR, Ukraine possessed the third-largest nuclear arsenal in the world, after the US and Russia. Ukraine transferred the nuclear weapons in its hands to Russia based on a single signature. It is since that day that Ukraine has been paying for its short-sighted and trusting policy. A Euro News report from November 30, 2018, detailed how the infrastructure for the Russian invasion was prepared. Russian-Ukrainian tensions in the sea areas brought the 1994 Budapest Memorandum back to the forefront.

25 years ago, Ukraine was the third-largest nuclear power in the world. Due to its Soviet legacy, it hosted 170 intercontinental ballistic missiles and dozens of bombers, as well as more nuclear weapons than Britain, France, and China combined. Under an agreement with the US, Ukraine received $500 million in compensation and the transfer of 5,000 units of nuclear weapons to Russia, where they were dismantled and neutralized. Kyiv gave up this terrible arsenal in 1994 in exchange for US money and a promise from Russia to respect Ukraine's sovereignty and existing borders, refrain from the threat or use of force, and assure that none of their weapons would ever be used against Ukraine. Similar agreements were made regarding the remaining nuclear weapons in Belarus and Kazakhstan. However, after the Russian Navy opened fire and seized Ukrainian Navy vessels, talks began that this agreement had been violated and that the US and Europe should take additional measures to protect Ukraine in response. The Ukrainian state must also acknowledge the political mistakes it made in the past...

The Ukrainian people are resisting. The Heroes of Ukraine are standing strong... The heroes who died in the Ukrainian-Russian war have not vanished without a trace; they speak as if to say, "We are not dead; we are on another mission."

In Turkish and Islamic culture, there is the rank of "Martyrdom." According to the Islamic faith, martyrs do not die... The Quran states: "And say not of those who are slain in the way of Allah, "They are dead." Nay, they are living, though you perceive it not."

Families of the heroes killed in the Ukrainian war recount that the heroes told their relatives in dreams: "We are not dead; we are on another mission."

Heroes do not die... They are alive but invisible to us—the invisible heavenly army of Ukraine, standing guard over its future.

We begin our interview with Natalia Zaremba, the wife of the heroic pilot killed in the Ukrainian war, Major Mykhailo Ihorovych Zaremba.

YUSUF INAN Journalist - Writer Editor-in-Chief

INTERVIEW WITH NATALIA ZAREMBA

YUSUF INAN: Could you please tell us about yourself and your husband, Mykhailo?

Natalia Zaremba-Kunka: My name is Natalia Zaremba, and I am the wife of Mykhailo Ihorovych Zaremba, who heroically died defending our state. Mykhailo was an officer in the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He was originally from the village of Zhulychi, Lviv region. He dreamt of becoming a military pilot since childhood. He loved watching the helicopters that often flew over his house. Mykhailo was a loving, well-mannered, confident, intelligent, and very determined person. When he really wanted something, he always achieved his goal. Only with him did I feel needed and completely safe. Mykhailo studied at the Kharkiv National Air Force University. In 2010, he graduated from the university and went to serve as a navigator-pilot in military unit A1100, which was based in Novofedorivka, Autonomous Republic of Crimea, at the time.

YUSUF INAN: How did you meet your husband?

Natalia Zaremba-Kunka: We met back in school. Mykhailo was in 9th grade, and I was only in 5th grade. Our relationship started when Mykhailo was in his first year of flight school. He came home for the holidays, and we met at the birthday party of a mutual acquaintance. Before he left for Kharkiv, he asked me to date him... I remember him asking, "Are you absolutely sure...?" I think he understood the responsibility and risk of his chosen profession, and he knew that a long-distance relationship wouldn't be easy. But we managed...

YUSUF INAN: How did you get married?

Natalia Zaremba-Kunka: In 2013, we had a civil ceremony in Crimea, and a month later, we were married in a church. I moved to Crimea to be with Mykhailo where he was serving.

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YUSUF INAN: Tell us about your children.

Natalia Zaremba-Kunka: We have two wonderful sons, Illia, 7, and Andriyko, 4. My husband really wanted a son. He loved and protected them deeply.

YUSUF INAN: You started a campaign for your husband to be awarded the Hero of Ukraine title. Why is it important to receive this title? Ukrainians already consider your husband a Hero of Ukraine.

Natalia Zaremba-Kunka: Talk about the Hero of Ukraine title first began with a classmate of my husband at the funeral. He said Mykhailo was a Hero and that we must fight for this title. At that time, I couldn't focus on anything else... the pain was so intense that I didn't want anything more. Later, after talking with his comrades, we collectively decided to create a petition. His classmates, military pilots, took on this responsibility, affirming that Mykhailo was one of the true Heroes who executed missions in a real hell. Unfortunately, few truly appreciate and understand the importance of Ukrainian pilots! "The entire crew flew out for an extremely important and risky mission. They all deserve high honors and the title of Heroes!" Nothing and no one can replace my beloved husband for me, or a loving father for my children. The only thing I ask for, what I fight for, is the memory of him. He gave his life for Ukraine, for each of us. And a person is alive as long as the memory of them is alive. That is why I ask for the help of every citizen of Ukraine to support the petition for the posthumous award of the Hero of Ukraine title to my husband. It is important for me that our children know that their dad is a Hero! By signing the petition, you honor the memory of the fallen defender, Mykhailo Zaremba! I am deeply touched by the support of people—not only relatives and friends but also completely unknown and unfamiliar people. You are incredible. Thank you for your understanding and sympathy.

YUSUF INAN: Where did your husband serve previously?

Natalia Zaremba-Kunka: As I mentioned, Mykhailo studied at the Kharkiv National Air Force University. In 2010, he graduated and went to serve as a navigator-pilot in military unit A1100, which was based in Novofedorivka, Autonomous Republic of Crimea, at the time.

YUSUF INAN: You said you came from Crimea. What was your husband's position in Crimea?

Natalia Zaremba-Kunka: Yes, we lived in Crimea for a certain period. At that time, my husband held the position of helicopter commander of the helicopter unit of the helicopter squadron.

YUSUF INAN: Did you come to Mykolaiv due to the occupation of Crimea? Can you tell us about that?

Natalia Zaremba-Kunka: With the start of the Russian aggression, Mykhailo did not betray his oath and, in March 2014, as part of the 10th Naval Aviation Brigade, he left the temporarily occupied Crimea for mainland Ukraine, specifically the city of Mykolaiv.

YUSUF INAN: Did your husband expect Russia to invade Ukraine?

Natalia Zaremba-Kunka: In early February, Mykhailo was training in England, and even then, he said that things were very unstable in the east, that something was approaching. When he returned, he repeated this more and more often. Mykhailo even explained the possible situation to the children so that they wouldn't panic if anything happened... I think he understood that the offensive was inevitable.

YUSUF INAN: How did you feel when the Russian invasion began on February 24, 2022?

Natalia Zaremba-Kunka: I will never forget that morning... the fear, anxiety, worry, uncertainty, not understanding what would happen... I was so happy when Mykhailo called for the first time after the missile strikes on the airfield...

YUSUF INAN: What was your husband, Mykhailo Ihorovych Zaremba, doing when the Russian invasion began?

Natalia Zaremba-Kunka: Mykhailo joined the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in 2006. At the time of the Russian invasion, he was serving in Mykolaiv.

YUSUF INAN: In what kind of family did your husband grow up?

Natalia Zaremba-Kunka: Mykhailo was born on November 19, 1987, in the village of Zhulychi, Lviv region. He grew up in a loving family that valued Ukrainian traditions. His father, Ihor Mykhailovych Zaremba, and mother, Oksana Yaroslavivna Zaremba, poured their heart and soul into raising their son. They instilled in him a love for his homeland, and love and respect for his neighbors. Crucially, they believed in the limitless strength of their son.

YUSUF INAN: What did your husband say before the war?

Natalia Zaremba-Kunka: About a week or two before the full-scale offensive, my husband was preparing us for it, explaining the possible situation to the children so that they wouldn't panic if anything happened. We prepared an emergency bag. He was very worried about us, so he insisted that I take the children to my parents in the Lviv region. We thought we would stay for a week or two and come back... but the worst happened... On February 24th, around 1 a.m., my husband called and said they had been raised on alert, and by 4 a.m., he said, "It has begun...!!!"

YUSUF INAN: Did he feel he might die in combat?

Natalia Zaremba-Kunka: Mykhailo was not an optimist about this war... he said it definitely wouldn't end soon, that we had to be as ready for anything as possible. I didn't want to believe it, but he didn't change his mind, and I am once again convinced that he was right. But we never even started conversations about him possibly dying. I always drove such thoughts away and prayed to God to always protect my husband and the entire crew.

YUSUF INAN: What instructions did your husband give?

Natalia Zaremba-Kunka: He fought for the freedom and independence of our Ukraine. His wish was for our children to have a future. He insisted that we go abroad for our safety. But I couldn't leave and leave him alone.

YUSUF INAN: How did you learn about Mykhailo's death?

Natalia Zaremba-Kunka: I was in contact with my husband every day. I couldn't rest until I heard his voice. That morning, he wrote that everything was fine, and they were getting ready for a sortie. I had no premonition of anything bad. I wished him a good, safe day. That day, my husband's father and I were choosing a bicycle for our elder son. I was used to consulting with him about such purchases. I first became worried when I started sending him photos of the bicycles and there was no reaction. He never disappeared for long. He always found time to call, even for a few seconds. I tried to call all day, I wrote, and then I started looking for the crew's contacts. I became scared like never before in my life. Only in the evening did I reach his comrade, who informed me that their helicopter had been shot down by an enemy missile...

YUSUF INAN: What did you feel at that moment?

Natalia Zaremba-Kunka: I refused to believe it; I didn't even want to hear about it. It couldn't have happened, not to my husband... I always understood all the risks, but for some reason, I was sure everything would be fine. I prayed to God and all the heavenly forces every day to protect him.

YUSUF INAN: How did the children take the death of their father? When did they find out?

Natalia Zaremba-Kunka: When I received the sad news, the children were nearby and heard everything. There was no point, and I couldn't hide my state. The older son immediately ran away crying. He still often asks, "Why did Dad have to fly there? Couldn't he have just not flown?!" The younger son doesn't fully understand everything yet... But he often repeats, "I'm so sad without Dad; I want him to be with us!" He tells everyone that his dad is in heaven.... It's so difficult and painful for me to watch them grieve and cry. We miss him so much.

YUSUF INAN: How did you and your husband's family react?

Natalia Zaremba-Kunka: There was complete incomprehension, despair, pain, and many tears. We all refused to believe what had happened until the very end. What now, and how do we go on?! The mind seems to understand, but the heart refuses to accept this fact.

YUSUF INAN: In which cemetery is your husband, Mykhailo Ihorovych Zaremba, buried?

Natalia Zaremba-Kunka: The farewell to my husband, pilot Mykhailo Zaremba, took place on May 12th. He was given the final military honors on the ground and in the sky. His comrades made a farewell three circles with a helicopter, saying goodbye to the pilot who had gone to the sky forever. He was buried in his native village of Zhulychi.

YUSUF INAN: What did you go through after your husband's death?

Natalia Zaremba-Kunka: The date May 7, 2022, changed my life forever. My husband's death was a real shock from which it is difficult to recover. The realization of grief comes every day. It comes when I wait for a call, but my husband doesn't call, doesn't answer my calls, when I wait for his advice and support, and it is not there, when he is so needed by his sons. I fall asleep with tears almost every evening, and in the morning, I look at our shared family photo. Almost nine months have passed, and it still seems to me that everything happened just yesterday.

YUSUF INAN: Did you have a dream before or after your husband's death?

Natalia Zaremba-Kunka: The dreams before my husband's death were joyful. There was no prophetic warning dream. After his death, my husband often appears in dreams. In one of them, my husband said that they are all alive, that it was meant to be that way...

YUSUF INAN: Were you expecting the Russian invasion?

Natalia Zaremba-Kunka: We discussed it with my husband. But until the last moment, I refused to believe that a full-scale war would start. Unlike my husband...

YUSUF INAN: Did your husband say anything to you about it?

Natalia Zaremba-Kunka: He said that the war definitely wouldn't end soon, that we needed to be as ready for anything as possible. Even if everything ends, it could all happen again after some time. Being neighbors with a terrorist country, one must be ready for anything.

YUSUF INAN: Where are you currently living?

Natalia Zaremba-Kunka: Currently, my children and I live with my parents in the Lviv region. This is also near the place where my husband grew up and is buried. We often go to visit his grave.

YUSUF INAN: How many soldiers died with your husband?

Natalia Zaremba-Kunka: Early in the fight for Snake Island, Ukrainian intelligence reported that the island was of strategic importance, and they would fight for it until the end. On May 7, 2022, to perform an extremely difficult mission to liberate Snake Island, it was decided to send an Mi-14 crew led by two experienced commanders. My husband, Mykhailo Zaremba, was among them. The helicopter was shot down by an enemy missile, and the entire crew died.

YUSUF INAN: Do you continue to communicate with your husband's friends?

Natalia Zaremba-Kunka: Yes, we had many mutual friends with whom I still communicate. His comrades and classmates call and write to me, trying to support me and help me get through the grief. I really appreciate their support.

YUSUF INAN: Did any of your husband's friends die in this war?

Natalia Zaremba-Kunka: Unfortunately, yes. What affected Mykhailo the most was not even sleeping in the field or missile strikes, but the loss of his friends.

YUSUF INAN: What do you want from the President of Ukraine, Mr. Zelenskyy?

Natalia Zaremba-Kunka: I appeal to the President of Ukraine with a request to duly honor the exploits of true patriots, the defenders of their Motherland. They stood up to protect their country, their people, and each of us, and at the cost of their own lives, they proved that they are worthy of the title Hero of Ukraine!

YUSUF INAN: What do you think when you look back?

Natalia Zaremba-Kunka: I want to live everything over and over again... to spend more time with my husband and children. Not to waste time on unnecessary things. Life values have taken on a completely different meaning now.

YUSUF INAN: Do you feel like the wife of a Hero?

Natalia Zaremba-Kunka: I thank God for my husband! I thank his parents for their son! I thank my husband for our children! I am proud to be Mykhailo's wife, because he is a true defender not only of our family but of the entire state.

YUSUF INAN: Do you have a message for the President of Russia, Putin?

Natalia Zaremba-Kunka: The Ukrainian people have one message for Putin: stop your terrorist actions and withdraw your troops from the entire territory of Ukraine!!!

YUSUF INAN: Do you have a message for the people of Russia?

Natalia Zaremba-Kunka: Every resident of Russia is an accomplice in the large-scale crimes committed on the territory of our state. It is in your interest to stop this senseless war.

YUSUF INAN: What would you like to say to world leaders?

Natalia Zaremba-Kunka: The barbarity of the Russian Federation knows no bounds. Our cities and people are under constant shelling; we don't know if there will be a tomorrow for us! This terror has no place in the 21st century. Ukraine needs more weapons to defeat this evil.

YUSUF INAN: Do you have a message for the US and EU countries helping Ukraine?

Natalia Zaremba-Kunka: We are grateful for their support of Ukraine in the fight against Russian aggression. We ask them not to delay but to act decisively. Helping Ukraine today is saving the world tomorrow!!!

YUSUF INAN: Do you have a message for Turkey, the Turkish people, and President Erdoğan?

Natalia Zaremba-Kunka: Since the beginning of the war, Turkey has made great efforts to bring the parties to negotiations. But unfortunately, Moscow cannot be trusted. The whole world has already been convinced of this. We thank your country and your people for their understanding and support.

YUSUF INAN: Do you have a message for mothers around the world?

Natalia Zaremba-Kunka: The joint prayer of mothers is a great force, love, tenderness, and protection. Mothers of the world, let us unite in a common prayer for our children, because no child is a stranger.

YUSUF INAN: What else can you tell us about your husband?

Natalia Zaremba-Kunka: After the annexation of Crimea, Mykhailo joined the fight against the invaders in the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) zone. He was a participant in the UN peacekeeping mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo. To become a pilot, my husband had a great desire, which helped him gain an education, have more than 1,000 hours of flight time, and everything else that his favorite work required of him. He became an experienced pilot of the Second Class, knew his equipment well. He was responsible, demanding, and fair. The job of a pilot is very difficult and responsible, requiring constant improvement and maximum concentration, always involving risk and having no room for error. Mykhailo found his calling, the work of his entire life. I am sure that he could have achieved even more in the field of aviation. He enjoyed his work. He died in the sky he loved so much.

YUSUF INAN: Thank you for the information. Is there anything else you would like to say?

Natalia Zaremba-Kunka: Thank you for helping to preserve the memory of my husband, and the Heroes of our country. Thank you very much.

INTERVIEW CONCLUDED

YUSUF İNAN / PEACE AT HOME, PEACE IN THE WORLD (*)

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(*)  As Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey, once said, 'Peace at Home, Peace in the World.' This timeless principle serves as a guiding light for nations striving for harmony, coexistence, and global stability.