Kyivan Taras Tarasenko enjoying every moment. That hasn’t always been the case recently. Tarasenko was separated from his family for more than a year. Now he has finally made it to his family and is getting to know his little daughter To Ksenia.
Ksenia is Tarasenko’s younger daughter. The girl was born when Tarasenko was at the front.
It was an experience for which Tarasenko finds it difficult to find words. He was able to participate in the birth with the help of a video call.
– It was a storm of emotions. I ran out of the dugout and shouted to the whole forest: the girl came, says Tarasenko.
However, the joy was mixed with sadness. Tarasenko could not touch and meet her child.
– However, the birth of Ksenia helped me cope, Tarasenko says now, more than a year after the girl’s birth.
met Tarasenko at the medical center when he was fitting a prosthesis. In the video, Taras talks about his feelings at the front. He also sends greetings to the Finns.
“I was nicknamed father Minecraft”
When Tarasenko was at the front, the family kept in touch via video calls whenever possible. The elder daughter Veronica’s the calls with were fun, says Tarasenko.
– He wanted to make me laugh. He presented his discoveries and crafts.
Tarasenko also says that he got a nickname from Veronika.
– I got the nickname “father Minecraft” because the quality of the video was bad, and I was often in pixels.
Last December, Tarasenko’s company fought fierce battles against Russia in Bahmut.
Tarasenko lost his right hand in the fighting.
He was hospitalized for a long time.
However, the pain greater than the loss of the hand was the worry about the family and children.
– I was most afraid that the Russians would come to Kiev again.
He says he fought to prevent that.
– If the sacrifice was a hand, I don’t regret it, says Tarasenko.
So Tarasenko only has one hand left.
A prosthesis will soon do the job of the other.
Even though the separation from the family was devastating and even though Tarasenko has a significant disability, he wants to return to the front.
– I won’t have peace until the Russians are out of our country. I will do everything I can so that our children can live, play and do what children want, he says.
Ksenia curiously examines her father’s new prosthesis to replace his lost hand.
“I want to say hello to the fathers of Finland”
Tarasenko knows that his interview will be published in Finland on Father’s Day. He wants to send his greetings to Finnish fathers.
What he missed most at the front was his family. And what he is most happy about at home now is his family.
He states the obvious, but it is filled with the greatest emotions.
– I missed my children. They have grown up and know new things.
And then he congratulates the Finns:
– I congratulate you on Father’s Day. Be strong, be responsible and fight for your families.