For several years Ukrainians have been paying tribute to those voluntarily defending the country from the external enemy. It is these people who became the key reason the aggressor has not advanced farther.
On the eve of the commemoration day, we met Chaplain Mykhailo Buchak, a person who had an opportunity to witness how the soldiers live. We are privileged to present an interview on the phenomenon of the volunteer movement, the Church's attitude toward it, the role of a soldier's education, and the volunteer chaplains.
"Volunteers are battlers that have Cossack blood running in their veins."
– Reverend Mykhailo, how can the contribution of the volunteer units be evaluated, especially at the beginning of the war?
– The defence of one's motherland is a holy duty arising from God's will; I believe. It is some inner urge rather than a conscious intention; that is why volunteers tend to be more motivated. This urge, of course, shall not understate the merits of the Ukrainian Armed Forces because; they too, have contributed a lot. Russia, however, was not prepared for the utterly intimidating resistance from the volunteer units.
Who composes a Volunteer Unit? People from Zakarpattia, Volyn, and Donbas areas, both Russian and Ukrainian speakers, are engaged. God Himself led those volunteer units, always espoused.
Sadly, there were many traitors among the governing bodies, and volunteers were facing much opposition. The volunteers operated with inspiration, sometimes ignoring instructions, thanks to which they survived.
I was honoured with my first assignment, for which was as a volunteer with Aidar. I had served in the regular forces from 1988 to 1990, but this experience appeared to be completely different. They had no control and no bureaucracy. They only had their motivation to learn to use various arms and to run all types of machines. I viewed those people as warriors with Cossack blood running in their veins. For that reason, they have always been successful warriors. They were also the ones to gather the Armed Forces around them as well.
Accepting a calling is to be found among any profession, and no one should judge another for not joining the volunteers. I'd say, a volunteer is a warrior. This warrior's gene has been present in Ukrainians since Kyiv Rus, the Cossack period and the World War II Insurgent Army because
they all quickly learned to fight. The enemy was surprised to find that Donetsk Airport was being defended by former Ukrainian engineers, teachers, and doctors, rather than US Special Forces. Putin wasn't prepared for the commitment of the volunteers. He'd planned to destroy Ukrainian Counterintelligence, and the Ministry of Defense through Viktor Yanukovych, but not Ukrainian determination.
A volunteer who chose to fight at the war zone was a mighty force that stopped the invasion. Commitment is the element that arose from God's will because it's something that could never be acquired.
"We are not to bless to invade Moscow, St Petersburg, or Rostov; we bless to defend Avdiivka, Mariinka, to reclaim Donetsk and Luhansk."
– Many people from the Volyn area and particularly EENU have joined these units. How do the Church representatives feel about them?
– The Church blesses the soldiers to defend their country. As I see it, it is the defeat of the bigger evil through exorcising the lesser one. In this case, God has blessed this war of liberation, and the Church supports the army. We are not to bless an invasion of Moscow, St Petersburg or Rostov; we bless the defenders of Avdiivka, Mariupol, Mariinka, to reclaim Donetsk and Luhansk, the places that have always belonged to Ukraine. That is why the Church prays and blesses the defence of Ukraine and each volunteer as well.
"Education motivates the defence of one's own country."
– As has been mentioned, many students and workers from our university participated in the hostilities. Do you think their presence in the university structure predetermined their involvement?
– First of all, it shows the intellectual level of those people. They made their decision themselves, but the education, namely their awareness of Ukrainian history and tradition, undoubtedly played its part.
Let's talk about the psychological aspects of war. A volunteer may read about Ivan Sirko or Petro Doroshenko to discover that there is no way that he lacks the same determination. Historical events present him with a choice, either to follow the great Ukrainians or to ignore the heroism before his participation.
For instance, Andriy Snitko, an EENU student and one who died a hero in the war, threw himself upon a grenade, while it took him just 2 or 3 seconds to make that decision. He died as an Orthodox because there is nothing more heroic for a Christian than to die for a fellowman. His education also contributed to his heroism.
That is why I believe that education empowers the writing of new history. Those volunteers have done this by employing their decisions. And these events will be studied in EENU as well, as a phenomenon of volunteer movements in the world history of wars of liberation.
Education motivates defending one's own country. Those who obtained education have strategic thinking. To my mind, higher education has helped the soldiers survive.
"Volyn has provided many volunteering soldiers who have, in turn, necessitated the emergence of military chaplains."
– Can chaplains be regarded as volunteers; are they not voluntarily serving God and the Motherland?
– The military chaplains of Volyn are currently considered volunteers. There is a compelling reason to support those who have taken up arms to join the defence.
Chaplains have taken leave of their churches and families and have gone to serve in the trenches regardless of the dangers or conditions. They are there to minister to a diverse group of people: Catholic, Muslim, or atheists.
Among the 19 Volyn chaplains seven came from Lesya Ukrainka National University. Five of them studied Psychology, one studied History and another is from Philosophy, and Religious Studies.
– How did the Volyn chaplain movement establish in the first place? Had it existed before the war?
– I think it all started with the 2014 Revolution. Those were the first real moments when everybody could see the importance of prayer during critical periods.
In 2014 The Volyn Chaplain Movement was begun. It became systemised with the establishment in 2015 of the Military Synod Managing Board and the chaplains started to serve in the East by rotation. Before that, they had only been following their spiritual inner calling.
Today there is a system inside the chaplain movement. If for the will of God, and the winning of the peace. Yet, I think that the movement will continue being helpful. It is necessary to pay attention to the recovery of soldiers and their families and their adaptation to a civilian way of life.
– In terms of the situation in Ukraine as a whole, what is the role of the chaplain movement in the Volyn area?
– We are in contact with our management in Kyiv, and we know that Volyn is among the three regions where the movement is most effective. Metropolitan Mikhail blessed the establishment of the Volyn Non-Governmental Chaplain Association. I have always known that
Volyn gathered many volunteer soldiers who in turn encouraged the emergence of military chaplains as such. Metropolitan Mikhail was right when he said, "if it weren't for you answering the call of God to become chaplains, we would not have such a strong force."
"To some extent, a chaplain is a psychologist sent by God."
– How significant is the presence of chaplains in the war zone?
– This need is due to the tragic phenomenon of war. A priest should be among people, and the army is holy sons who take up risky tasks. According to surveys, 95% of soldiers need chaplains. I think a chaplain is 'a psychologist sent by God'. Chaplains promote moral values where hostilities take place. Soldiers also understand that the presence of a chaplain is not about a particular person being around but the presence of God Himself. As it goes, 'where several men gather in Heaven's name, I am there too'. A chaplain is responsible for gathering the believers within a military unit. People there begin to pray, and spiritual matters come to life:
- 'God is with us. Understand this, you people, and obey, because God is with us': if God is by our side, then we have many more opportunities to win the war;
- 'Help each other with your burdens, and so you will execute the law of Christ': this one is about the mutual support among the soldiers.
- There exists nothing more heroic than laying down one's life for the sake of one's fellowman. It's about that bravery when one understands that God is by their side.
A military chaplain transmits true values. He enables the soldiers to discover God during critical situations. Any soldier is a potential believer though he may not apply the faith to real-life situations. A chaplain is a guide. There was a story a soldier told me about two units in Debaltseve, one of which took the Holy Sacraments while the other one refused. The first unit suffered two injured soldiers, and in the other, only one soldier remained unhurt, and two were injured. These are only some instances, but the spiritual unity with God is quite essential. If no necessity like that existed, then this movement wouldn't exist as well. However, it is only expanding. We see how crucial it is because of the experience of Cossacks and Insurgents.
'A productive cooperation between the educational sector and the clergy is planned for the future.'
– Lesya Ukrainka EENU and the clergy can cooperate to facilitate the patriotic way of upbringing. Now how can this be achieved?
– Now is the right time to start collaborating. As much as the university's representatives are ready to accept challenges, the Volyn chaplains are also. One of the difficulties is in shaping a patriotic mentality in people.
As a result of this cooperation, some EENU graduates may become chaplains also, as well as soldiers and military psychologists. Let us never have this war again but always have the people ready to stand for Ukraine.
You have recently had this discussion with Rector Anatoliy Tsios. How can you describe that conversation?
We were talking about a department for military psychologists and journalists and the future cooperation of clerical establishments and Lesya Ukrainka university. This cooperation is something new, but very important.
Having met some European and NATO chaplains, I can say that we exercise a lot of practical tasks, but we lack some theoretical and psychological basics. It's a large field of work that has to include both students and the university and the chaplains too.
I can see the prerequisites for cooperation. Thus, Anatoliy Tsios has seemed very understanding about the suggestion to celebrate Volunteer Day at the university. He knows for sure that it may be of great importance for the students.
Fruitful cooperation awaits us, I believe. For example, military journalism needs further development, and a great demand for military psychologists exists. Both the university resources and the experience of chaplains and soldier volunteers can inspire to shape the new Ukrainian elites to then raise the country to the level of the Yaroslav the Wise’s times.
The expectation is for much success, knowing that mistakes are unavoidable too. We, however, shouldn't be afraid of them. If for God's will, we will make outstanding achievements in cooperation with the university.
Interview by Andriy PETRUSHKO
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