They Went to Defend Ukraine, They Did Not Return: Exclusive Interview with Mariia Stusiak
Mariia Stusiak shares the heartbreaking story of her husband Roman, a soldier of the Aidar Battalion who fell defending Ukraine. Read the exclusive interview by Yusuf Inan regarding her fight for his recognition as a Hero.
Editor
YUSUF INAN - INTERVIEW
They went to defend Ukraine, they did not return!
YUSUF INAN: Can you provide some brief information about yourself? Who is Mariia Stusiak?
MARIIA STUSIAK: I am Mariia Stusiak, the wife of Roman Stusiak, a fallen soldier of the Aidar Battalion. I am 34 years old, and I am raising our son, Mark, who is 6. My husband and I lived 7 years of married life together, but the war took him from us. Now, my son remains the only meaning of my life.
YUSUF INAN: Could you provide brief information about your husband, Roman Oleksandrovych Stusiak?
MARIIA STUSIAK: Roma was 33 when he perished. Before the war, he worked in the construction sector and had no relation to military affairs, but he was always a patriot of his country. Therefore, as soon as he was drafted into the ranks of the army, he went to defend our Ukraine without hesitation.
YUSUF INAN: How was Roman Oleksandrovych Stusiak accepted into the army? What was his job?
MARIIA STUSIAK: Roma was mobilized into the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He was an assault trooper, meaning he participated in storming Russian positions. This was always work at "zero" positions [the absolute front line], and sometimes even at "minus" positions [behind enemy lines].
YUSUF INAN: When was your husband, Roman Oleksandrovych Stusiak, drafted? How many months did he fight?
MARIIA STUSIAK: Roma was drafted in June; since August he was in hot spots, and he perished on October 22 of last year. So, he spent almost five months at war.
YUSUF INAN: How did you find out that he died?
MARIIA STUSIAK: When he went on his next mission, there was no connection with him for days. I didn't know what was happening to him or where he was at all, but there was information from friends that they were encircled and involved in very heavy combat. Four days later, I was informed that Roma had perished.
YUSUF INAN: Did your husband really die? Did you receive an official document?
MARIIA STUSIAK: Yes, the military unit provided us with documents confirming his death. Also, at first I didn't want to believe it, so I started looking for evidence myself and verifying information on exactly how he died. I managed to get in touch with the guys before whose eyes my husband was killed, and they told me all the details. It turned out that Roma was shot by Russian soldiers during the battle.
YUSUF INAN: If your husband died, why wasn't his body delivered to you?
MARIIA STUSIAK: During that terrible battle, our military was encircled; the transport that arrived to evacuate the dead and wounded was blown up. In that battle, there were many casualties on our side, and those who survived physically could not retrieve the bodies of their brothers-in-arms. From that moment until today, that territory has been occupied, so the body can only be retrieved either when this territory is liberated or by hoping that the authorities will negotiate an exchange of bodies from this direction.
YUSUF INAN: How many people died together with your husband?
MARIIA STUSIAK: I cannot disclose this information; I can only say that it is dozens of men, and their bodies were also not retrieved.
YUSUF INAN: Did your husband's brothers also participate in the war? Are there cases of death from the same family?
MARIIA STUSIAK: No, you likely misunderstood the meaning of the word "pobratymy" [brothers-in-arms]. Our military men call each other brothers-in-arms or brothers.
YUSUF INAN: Could you provide brief information about your family?
MARIIA STUSIAK: Roma and I have a son who is six years old. These are my closest people, as my parents have passed away. Roma also has a mother and sister remaining.
YUSUF INAN: What does your family think about the death of Roman Oleksandrovych Stusiak?
MARIIA STUSIAK: This is a heavy loss for our family. It is very difficult to come to terms with this, and all our actions are currently directed solely at retrieving the body and burying him as a Hero.
YUSUF INAN: You want your husband to be awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine. At what stage is the campaign? What is your goal?
MARIIA STUSIAK: Yes, it is very important for our family that Roma be awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine, because, as those who managed to survive say, Roma died like a true Hero: not from shrapnel, not from a shell, but in direct combat, from an enemy bullet. I want our son to receive this award in memory of his father. We need to collect 25,000 signatures. At the moment there are only 1,000, so I ask everyone to sign this petition; it is the least we can do to thank Roma for giving his life so that we could live.
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YUSUF INAN: Do you communicate with your husband's friends from the war?
MARIIA STUSIAK: Yes. They have supported me very strongly since I found out that my husband perished; for them, this is also a heavy loss. For me, they are now also like family; I am very grateful to them, and they can always count on my support and help. To me, they are all family; I worry about them and pray for them.
YUSUF INAN: I want to ask you a few specific questions. How did you meet Roman Oleksandrovych Stusiak?
MARIIA STUSIAK: We met in one of the restaurants in our city. Roma said that from the first minutes he realized that I was meant to be his wife.
YUSUF INAN: When did you get married?
MARIIA STUSIAK: We got married on July 28, 2016.
YUSUF INAN: How many children do you have? Can you tell me their names? How old?
MARIIA STUSIAK: We have one son, Mark; he is six years old.
YUSUF INAN: Does your son miss his father?
MARIIA STUSIAK: Mark misses dad very much. He often kisses dad's photo, says he misses him and wants dad to come back. He calls dad a Superhero.
YUSUF INAN: Did you feel that your husband might die?
MARIIA STUSIAK: In those days when my husband did not get in touch, there really were feelings that something terrible might happen. Roma also felt that this might be his last battle. He said he would die with a smile on his face because it is for the sake of our family and Ukraine.
YUSUF INAN: Did you see him in a dream?
MARIIA STUSIAK: I dreamt of Roma, and he asked me to give our son whatever he wants. His mother also dreamt of him, and he told her not to cry because he won't come anymore. Friends and relatives also dreamt that he stood next to people who are no longer alive. That is why I believe that he perished.
YUSUF INAN: Where do you live now? Is your territory safe?
MARIIA STUSIAK: We live in the West of Ukraine, in the city of Ternopil; it is quite safe here.
YUSUF INAN: What are your plans for the future?
MARIIA STUSIAK: I want to, and I will, do everything so that my Hero is remembered, his sacrifice appreciated worthily, to find his body and bury him as a Hero, and also to raise our son to be a real man.
YUSUF INAN: Do you have a message for the President of Ukraine, Mr. Zelenskyy?
MARIIA STUSIAK: I have words of gratitude and deep respect for him. I am proud of our president; I thank him for bringing us closer to victory, for showing and continuing to show the whole world that Ukraine is a strong state and will defend its independence to the last.
YUSUF INAN: Do you have a message for Russian President Putin?
MARIIA STUSIAK: No. For me, he is the personification of evil, and it is impossible to talk to evil; it needs to be destroyed.
YUSUF INAN: Do you have a message for the people of Ukraine?
MARIIA STUSIAK: Thank you to everyone who works for our victory on any front. Do not dare to doubt our victory for a minute, and after the victory, let us not forget the price at which we achieved it.
YUSUF INAN: Your husband fought for the independence of Ukraine and the freedom of the Ukrainian people. What would you like to say on behalf of your husband?
MARIIA STUSIAK: Live with dignity! Live so that the price we paid for the future of our country was not in vain. Our generation must see this matter through to the end so that future generations live happily.
YUSUF INAN: What kind of person was your husband, Roman Oleksandrovych Stusiak?
MARIIA STUSIAK: Fair, courageous, decisive. All the time he was at war, he never complained about anything; on the contrary, he tried to support and calm me down, even though it was much harder for him. He was a wonderful husband and a loving father.
I thank you for doing a very important job, for caring about Ukraine; for our people, Turkey's support is very important...
Glory to Ukraine.
YUSUF İNAN / PEACE AT HOME, PEACE IN THE WORLD (*)
Twitter : @Yusufinan2023
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Email : editor@wisenewspress.com
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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.
