Watching Ukraine’s counteroffensive that started in June from a distance has left Viktor Poberezhets feeling powerless.
Alina Mäkynen,
Pasi Takkunen
Ukrainian soldier Viktor Poberezhets was at the end of March performing a night military mission on the front line when a Russian drone spotted his troops.
The soldiers had no chance to hide when Russia opened fire on them from tanks. Several grenades were fired at the group.
– I was thinking about my daughter. As soon as I thought of him, another grenade flew towards us. It didn’t explode.
– That’s when I realized that we have to survive. And so we did, says Poberezhets.
Poberezhets, who injured his leg in the fight, initially received hospital treatment in Ukraine. From there, he ended up continuing his treatment in Finland, where his family had already fled a year earlier.
Now the whole family lives in Alavude in South Ostrobothnia, where Poberezhets’ daughter goes to elementary school.
The goal of war is absolute
Watching the Ukrainian counteroffensive that began in June from a distance has left Poberezhets feeling powerless. He has watched with concern how the Russians attack civilian targets, where the victims are women and children.
– I would like to help and do something. There are my brothers and my people.
Poberezhets expected Ukraine to begin recapturing its lost territories in a counteroffensive that began in June. According to him, it is difficult to evaluate the achievements of the summer and the current situation at the moment.
However, the ultimate goal of a defensive war is clear.
– We must get back the territory of Ukraine as it was in 1991.
– And of course, the fact that there wouldn’t be a single terrorist or enemy in our area.
The support of the Finns has been warming
After arriving in Finland, Poberezhets noticed that strangers became interested in him when they saw the Ukrainian flag.
– They say: “Glory to Ukraine, glory to the heroes!”. Support is always warm.
Now Poberezhets is spending time with his family and waiting for the next surgery, because he still has a piece of metal in his leg.
There are still a few months left to recover. After that, Poberezhets will return to the middle of the war.
– I have to go back.