Oleksii, 53, died as a hero on the front: “He loved life”

Oleksii, 53, died at the front and will never again control the family’s sailboat across the Mediterranean.

The Soldier’s Liliia’s judgment over the leader of the Great Powers is tough:

“Putin is a piss rat and Trump a shit boot,” she says.

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Chevron-Down

Already six months before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Oleksii Nedolia had joined the territorial defense, without the wife knowing it. On the first day of the war, he signed up as a voluntary soldier. It was as it used to be:

– He made his decisions himself and always implemented them into the tile, says the widow Liliia Nedolia, 41.

On February 22, 2024, Infantrisergeant Oleksii Nedolia went out on what became his last assignment at the front near Bachmut. A grenade met the armor shooting vehicle soldiers traveled in and Oleksii died of split injuries.

– He was tired after two years at the front. I wanted him to be moved to a less dangerous service, but it wasn’t. He died like a hero, says Liliia.

“He was a dreamer who loved life”

In Kyiv, life continues-despite constant Russian attacks with Iranian Shahed drones and recurring flying alarms. But over the past year has been extra heavy for Liliia and the five children, without Oleksii.

“Terrible,” says Liliia, silent.

After a break, she continues:

– Oleksii could handle anything and was very smart. He was a great dreamer who loved life.

Her husband was a successful businessman before the war, she herself works as a photographer.

“Uncomfortable to speak Russian”

For Aftonbladet’s sake, Liliia makes an exception and conducts the interview in Russian:

– I have spoken Russian all my life, before the invasion. Now I never do it, just for your sake. But it feels uncomfortable. I’m only talking Ukrainian nowadays, says Liliia.

What do you think of Putin?

– He’s a piss rat. What should I say about that pig? I wish he would cease to exist and free humanity from his presence.

And Trump?

– He is a shit boot that calls white black, and black for white. He has delusions that it was we who started the war. Trump is horrible.

The son is to rebuild all the demolished houses

After the Russian army’s massacre in Butja was revealed in 2022, Liliia was scared and fled with her family to Slovakia for nine months. But then they came back.

– We returned because this is where we belong, says Liliia.

The son Viktor has reached the age of 18 and thus reached the age where Ukrainian men are not allowed to leave the country when it is at war, not until they are 60 years old. But Viktor avoids military service, as well as all young men in families where someone died in battle.

– Viktor is studying as an architect. His plan is to rebuild all the demolished houses in Ukraine after the war, says mother Liliia.

Politically, she does not support President Volodymyr Zelenskyj’s party, but notes that Donald Trump is lying when he claims that the president has only the support of four percent of Ukrainians.

– Zelenskyj has a strong character, and the majority of Ukrainians support our president.

“Don’t believe the war ends soon”

Since 2014, the family has no contact with their Russian relatives:

– When my mother talked to her Russian uncle and he thought it was fantastic that Russia had taken back Crimea, she broke the contact, says Liliia.

Now she longs for peace:

– We are all very tired of the war and want it to end. But not at any price. I am convinced that the Ukrainians are not ready to end the war if it means that we lose the occupied areas and people who live there. I don’t think the war will end soon, says Liliia Nedolia.