They chose to defend freedom, democracy, sovereignty without thinking. Every day at the front, they hold back the advance of the enemy and little by little liberate the land from the Russian invaders. Some of them were teachers just yesterday. And today – in the very heart of the infernal war. We at the Dnipropetrovsk State University of Internal Affairs talked with our employees who defend Ukraine at the front.
Dmytro Bilan is a teacher of the Department of Special Physical Training of the Faculty of Criminal Police. And also a master of sports of Ukraine of the international class in Jiu-Jitsu combats and a judge of the national and international category, a coach, a mentor of young athletes of the DSUIA. But all this was in a past life. Before the war.
Why did you decide to become a soldier?
It is necessary to protect the native country, defend it from the arbitrariness and cruelty of the “horde of orcs”. And you also need to become an example for those you teach. I want my children and students to build a free, legal and independent Ukraine together. And yes, maybe in some ways I am an idealist, but I want to live in a better world. I have the utmost respect for my brothers, with whom we perform combat tasks on the front lines to protect the Motherland. We are all here as one family. And I really like that I teach soldiers important things and have something to do with rebuilding the army according to NATO standards.
What is your motivation?
For me, the most important things are peace, blue sky and fertile land under my feet, sun, sea and mountains of my native country. Relatives add strength and effort, because we keep the occupiers as far away from them as possible. And the support of ordinary people who, just meeting us on the street, say hello and smile is also very inspiring. They understand how important these things are in such a dire hour for the state.
What do we need to win?
Equipment, weapons, support. My family, for example, never left Ukraine. They support me. In addition, my wife is a volunteer and designs various “jokes” for the needs of the Armed Forces, while my youngest daughter sends videos where she reads poems. They illuminate my path and give me strength to make this world a better place!
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