Oleg: Warrior, Teacher, Son
On a training mission. Photo courtesy of Oleg.
Oleg was born in Kyiv center and lived there for the first nine years of his life. After kindergarten he attended a school named in honor of Lesya Ukrainka, acclaimed Ukrainian writer, poetess, and activist. Life continued in a new, cozy apartment in Kyiv with his mother until a few years later when they moved to Osokorky so Oleg could attend a school that offered advanced English instruction.
At 16, Oleg’s last year in secondary school, he switched to distance learning so he could go to work. His first job at a bicycle shop sparked his interest in racing, and he became a competitive, die-hard enthusiast. The cycle shop was a joint business venture with a family friend, and Oleg invested himself heavily in its success.
While working at the cycle shop, Oleg finished college with a degree in Facilities Economics Management (ironically, a field he’s never worked in). A job at a mobile phone shop followed, then a stint as a service engineer with MOYO, a luxury chain store of high-end electronics.
After being offered a job opportunity in Thailand, Oleg moved there and worked with money transfers. His job allowed him to travel and explore Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia, and Laos. A return to MOYO followed, then, because he had fallen in love with the country, Oleg returned to Thailand to try to find employment. Unfortunately, nothing materialized, and he returned to his native Ukraine.
Oleg worked with social media networks, adjusting bots for communities and then retreated to the village to work on his family’s farm. After one year of peaceful, quiet village life, the war started.
From the very first day, Oleg and his friends and neighbors began constructing roadblocks, defense positions, and Molotov cocktails. They grabbed their guns and joined the Territorial Guard (TG) along with others who wanted to serve and protect.
That moment marked a turning point in Oleg’s life, and his life altered in unfathomable ways. His entire world view shifted and his mind even now constantly calculates distances to objects and landmarks for aim adjustment or general intelligence purposes. Oleg still has trouble accepting this new reality: “We never thought that we would have to take guns in our hands for anything besides hunting or shooting ranges for fun.”
A computer and RC car aficionado, Oleg was a natural choice to become a drone operator in TG. He made connections with army and military administration and organized trainings for his TG unit, making him commander’s patron of battle trainings.
A broken hand and other illnesses have sidelined Oleg temporarily. We’re all waiting to see what comes next in his fight to defend his homeland.
Unloading donations for Territorial Guard. Photo courtesy of Oleg.
