On February 24, Russia launched a full-scale military invasion against Ukraine, and the very next day, the deputy of the Odesa Regional Council, Andriy Babenko, together with his comrades, joined the ranks of the territorial defense. Together with his two brothers, Oleksiy and Oleksandr, Andriy began to defend Ukraine in the Kherson direction.
Journalists of the ElitExpert publication spoke with the deputy of the regional council, the commander of the unit of the Terrodefense Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Andriy Babenko immediately after his arrival on rotation in Odesa.
The politician talked about his personal attitude towards fellow traitors from the former OPZZ and the Sharia Party in the Odesa Regional Council, his attitude towards the President of Ukraine and the leader of his party "Batkivshchyna" Yulia Tymoshenko. About volunteering, service in the Teroboron, the realities of the front line, the loss of brothers and a change in outlook after returning to the rear.
Before the full-scale invasion, most Ukrainians did not believe that Russia could attack. What were your thoughts on this?
Russia is the enemy. And we should have understood this since 2014. This is an unscrupulous neighbor, that neighbor who claimed and claims our independence and our land, kills our people. It was clear to me even then that sooner or later Russia would go all in.
The question is different — we had to prepare for it, strengthen our defense capabilities and allocate more money to the army.
Was the country ready for a full-scale military invasion by the Russians on February 24, 2022, despite the fact that the war in Ukraine has been going on since 2014?
The moral spirit of the Ukrainian people, their strength and power were always ready. Personally, I am sure that even the leadership of our country did not fully understand that the entire people of Ukraine would rise up to defend our land. Thanks to our people, the historical Cossack spirit and everyone who took up arms, Ukraine has already defeated Russia, and they understand it perfectly.
Putin made a big mistake when he went to war against Ukraine. And even despite the fact that at the beginning of the war we did not have the kind of weapons that Russia had, let alone in such a quantity and volume. We persevered and did not break, and Russia got its share. And the main merit in this is the people of Ukraine, who united everyone: women, mothers, young boys and girls, even our grandparents - all took up arms to defend their land. This is patriotism, this is our indomitable Ukrainian spirit.
After the start of the war, the townspeople of Odesa began to switch to the Ukrainian language en masse, and became more expressive patriots of their country. Don't you think that thanks to Putin, we have a new national idea that united everyone?
If we speak for the common people, indeed, their views have changed and they may have become more patriotic. Speaking for the politicians, they simply adapted. People like Shkarivskyi and Knyaz in the regional council... this whole thing, I'm sorry, the "shepherd" just "changed her shoes". They are the "Russian peace" that sits in our regional council. They always adapt where they need to and conveniently parasitize in Ukraine. And God forbid, the perspective would have changed, and Russia would have won this war - they would have already stood with flags and rallied "Russia - go in". These people have no faith and no forgiveness. They are not patriots of Ukraine, because it was thanks to people like Knyaz and Shkarovsky that Russia started the war, because it was sure that they would be greeted with flowers, but it did not work out.
Those who called Russia, who shouted "Putin the great winner" are the same criminals as Putin himself.
In your opinion, how should the political system be reconfigured today, because such role models, people's elected representatives, should not decide the fate of the population of Odesa region and Ukraine as a whole?
Now you and I are all together writing a new history of Ukraine for our children. In a new story, everything should be in a new way. Patriots must be patriots. Those who have repainted must be a different "sort". I don't divide people, but you can call them that. For them, it is only a matter of time when the "flags" will start to be raised again and shout "Russia come".
How many of our soldiers died? How many people were left without homes? How many of our little children died who did not even understand what life is?
OPZJ, Sharia Party - it was they who called "Russian peace" to Ukraine. They are criminals and I don't understand why they are still not behind bars. But I know that human judgment is inevitable for them.
The war will end, we will defeat Russia and I will personally deal with them.
Nevertheless, they still have the right to vote in the Odesa Regional Council...
Unfortunately, it is. But if we want to be a European state, we must do everything according to the law. Well, nothing, thank God, I returned from the front, so a lot will change in the regional council, watch. I will tell you even more, some special services, perhaps from OPZZhshniks, still take some funds in order to bring people like me to some criminal case, to take them for something, as they say - "on the hook". You and I must perfectly understand that the war will end, we will definitely win and the time will come for them too.
I am sure we will really change history. Because the government had to understand during the war that the Ukrainian people are power. The Ukrainian people should not be played with at all.
Your colleagues, deputies of the Odesa City Council, did not make a decision regarding the fate of the monument to Catherine at the session in October. A social survey of the citizens was also conducted, the results of which showed that the majority of the city's population is FOR dismantling the monument and its transfer to the museum. What is your opinion about where the monument should be located?
Odessa residents showed a clear position that the monument to Catherine should be removed and moved to a museum. In my opinion, this is right, because everything that connected us with the Russian Federation should be destroyed and removed from our lives.
Russia attacked Ukraine. It brought grief to millions of people, took thousands of lives, destroyed houses and infrastructure, which is still needed to understand.
It's one thing for the military - they understand that they are going to war, as I and my brothers understood it. When we went to the front line, we were well aware that someone might stay there, someone might not return home or become disabled. But why bomb the homes of peaceful people who are essentially innocent of anything? It's another matter when those who called for "Russian peace" are bombed, in my opinion - they deserved it.
Because it turns out that those who were patriots of Ukraine are all at war. And those who called "Russian peace" and saw what it really is - all are sitting in the rear and solving their own problems.
Here, for example, the deputy of the Knyaz Regional Council goes to some fairs, tells something... Why is this happening, he should not go anywhere. Even if we leave politics aside, he, as a person, does not deserve to communicate with people. He called for "Russian peace", which is killing our citizens. He is a member of the OPZHA party. As for Shkarivskyi, I am generally silent about him. As long as I am a deputy of the Odesa Regional Council, I will not allow him to sit in the Presidium. I openly declare to you, I will not allow this. There will be scandals. And let them write that I am an inadequate person. But he is not a patriot of Ukraine, in my opinion. He is a criminal, just like Putin.
My brother died. I personally serve in the Teroboron, and when we were on the front lines, I myself said goodbye to my life several times. I hate these people who called "Russian peace", these politicians. And I hope that at least now they will rethink something and go away.
What is your relationship with the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyi? Did it change after February 24?
Yes, the attitude has really changed, Volodymyr Oleksandrovych did not abandon the people and remained in Ukraine, which, in my opinion, also motivated people to take up arms and defend their land.
Before the war, I did not perceive him as a real leader, but now he is one for me, despite the fact that I am in a different political force. As a conscript, I say that President Zelenskyy is really a leader for me now.
Every time he appeared on the air since the beginning of the war, it motivated the boys. And everyone said that he had "steel" I don't want to say what, you understand (smiles - ed).
The fact that there are many dishonest people around the president, we perfectly understand that, but if we are specifically speaking for President Zelenskyi, then I respect him.
In the Odesa Regional Council, you are a deputy from the "Batkivshchyna" party, whose leader is Yulia Tymoshenko. In the spring, a female politician came to Rozdilnya district, from which you ran for office. Also, during the war, she visited your unit and presented an SUV. How would you characterize her as a person and a politician?
I have respect for her because, as a true leader and woman, she did not flee abroad, but stayed in Ukraine with the team and is not afraid to come to the boys on the front line and help.
As a politician, Yulia Tymoshenko, in my opinion, is very intelligent and has a lot of experience. Of course, she cannot take up arms and go to the front, but she does a lot and helps in the rear.
A question about the car: it was handed over to our military unit. When we returned to the rotation, he came with us, but the war is not over, and when we have to go to the front again, this car will go with us. It was given to a military unit, not to me personally.
Why did you choose the Batkivshchyna party for your political career?
I joined the ranks of the party before the war, three years ago. "Batkivshchyna", in my opinion, is a pro-Ukrainian party that has nothing to do with Russia, it is definitely not OPZZ and not Shariy. Then I decided that this particular party was closer to my heart.
When at the beginning of the war we received weapons and joined the Terrodefense, we did not have combat orders to go in the Kherson direction. That's why I helped the residents of my constituency. Thanks to our Romanian friends, we were able to bring a lot of humanitarian aid, which was provided to pensioners, children from low-income families and everyone who needed it. There was a position that I have, that my team has - while we are here, we must help the soldiers and all those who need our help.
When the combat order came to go to the front line, my comrades and I got together and went.
You are the founder of the Samson security company. Did you downsize when the war started, or did any of your employees go to war?
Many of those who went with me to the Teroboron also went to the front. For example, all my deputies who worked in the security structure joined the Terrodefense with the beginning of the war, then they all went to the front.
"Samson" fighters are also on the front line, my brother Serhii Khlystun died there, when there was a battle in Blagodatny. He was an employee of "Samson", trusted me and went with me. Unfortunately, he died.
You have the "Hope of Tranquility" Charitable Foundation. What kind of funding does it have and what are its volunteers doing now?
My wife is the head of this Charitable Foundation. We help the residents of Odesa region, we work, we distribute food packages. To all those who need help.
How would you rate the contribution of volunteers during the war?
Thanks to volunteers, it is really easier for our defenders. A lot of people help - cookies, clothes, small cakes. Well done volunteers. I can't speak for everyone, because there are pseudo-volunteers who adapt, but in general, they do a lot for the army and the country.
Even the children baked us cookies and gave them to us, wrote us letters, this is very motivating. Thanks to volunteers, today our army feels more confident.
In your opinion, what is more important now in volunteering and charity — PR or real work?
I volunteered myself. Before being sent to the front line, while we were here, we delivered food kits, wheelchairs, hygiene products and much more. People often wrote that I do PR, but I don't understand why I do PR if I have partners from Romania who help us: Romanian people's deputies, members of the European Parliament. Helping us, they would like to see a report of where everything went, so I post everything and everything on my social networks.
And here sofa experts appear who write "here's PR". So take it and you are PR, take it and help!
When I went to the front line, there were many rumors "he left for 2 weeks, will take pictures and come back." But we did not leave sector zero for 95 days, we were there with our brothers.
Being at the front, when I was in the unit and recorded a video, some even wrote that you were doing PR there on the front lines. So come and you'll get drunk here. These are sick people, I think, there is no need to pay attention to this.
When the war is over, we will have to give a report on who was where and what they were doing - I will give it. We helped people by volunteering, delivered a humanitarian woman, and people saw my work. The combat order came - we sat down with our comrades and left. Not with words, but with deeds.
Who supplied your ground defense unit with the necessary items?
The state issued a uniform, fed very well. If the question arose about a car, then friends and relatives helped, bought something themselves. Salaries are paid, thank God, so they bought a lot with the boys.
When did you form your unit?
On February 25, we all joined the Terrodefense, there was no time to think. On February 24, we went to Odesa, to the head of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, to the military commissariat, to be issued with weapons, because we understood that we would join either a volunteer formation or the Teroboron. In the Teroboron - then there were neither contracts nor salaries - and everyone joined the Teroboron.
How many fighters does your unit have?
In Teroboron, I am a platoon commander, I have 28 soldiers. 27 — The whip died. 27 fighters. And in general, when we were recruiting guys, it was a company of 92 men. My acquaintances from Zakharivka, Velika Mykhailivka, Zatyshsh, where I was elected a deputy of the Odesa Regional Council, have all left.
At the beginning of the war, on February 24, I had about 40 men. The guys came and asked what to do next: where to get weapons and everything else. That's how we all rallied and joined the territorial defense.
Where was your deployment?
Our location was in Zakharivka, near the border with Transnistria. But at the same time, do not forget that I am a deputy of the regional council, no one took these powers away from me, I must work with the population. It is necessary to understand what problems there are, to solve them, to help people. He served in the Teroboron, and at the same time he helped and worked with people.
In July, if I am not mistaken, there was a combat order to go to the Kherson direction. Our 181st battalion, the company in which I serve, we were the first to go in the direction of Kherson.
On which front line were you and what happened there?
There is sector zero, the first, second line of defense, the third, the fifth... we went with our brothers to sector zero. The enemy was 3,5-4 km from us, but we were standing and they were nearby. Snigurivka is 9 km from where we were.
Always in combat readiness, as there were arrivals every time. The task was to dig in as much as possible, dig dugouts and hold the defense. And if there was a team, try to advance. It's a completely different life there.
Constant arrivals, 200s, 300s. In war, the worldview changes in general, when you see the wounded, when boys die, everything changes.
What was the scariest thing for you in the war?
As I remember now, the company commander to whom we were assigned called me. We were in the 63rd brigade. The late commander of the company, the kingdom of heaven, says: "Andrey, (I have a correspondence in my phone, I saved it for my whole life) Andrey, I am solving a combat task, give me 4 of your guys, experienced, intelligent."
I call the commander of the department to me and say: "Take three guys with you, you are the leader, and give them to the company commander." It was in the evening, maybe 20 p.m. Full combat readiness and sent. Night - there are no boys. In the morning - they are not there either. There is no connection with them. We understand that this is a "zero" zone, so there is no communication there at all, only through Starlink, and if there is communication, it is via walkie-talkies, and the walkie-talkies are not picked up in all sectors.
At 17:12 p.m., the deputy company commander calls me and says: "Andrei, we need XNUMX of your soldiers, such and such a settlement, we will go in." I say: "Okay, but I'm going personally." "No, you stay in the sector as a senior," says the commander. And I answered: "I will not send the soldiers, I will go with them."
We went with the boys, and when we realized where we had come, I had even more gray hair. We were covered from all sides. I ask where we are going, you can already say that - there was a battle in Blagodatny, paratroopers went there. My boys and the late company commander were fighting, and our task was to enter Blagodatne and reinforce them.
When we approached Blagodatny, tanks, Bekhs, mortars, artillery began to cover us. Everything works well for them. And it lasted all night. We could not enter because we were covered from all sides. And there you don't need to give free rein to emotions, if you do that, it's a minus of human life.
Stood incorrectly - tore off the leg. Stretch marks It all works. There is a war. You need to think, do preliminary research, but it happens that there is no time for this and you need to act.
I asked the question, where are my four boys, whom I gave to the company commander. They say: "The company commander died. Together with your guys, he went into the house and gave a tank a direct hit there. We don't understand what's wrong with them, they're nowhere."
Then it became for me… you know, as strong as I am, I have tears in my eyes…
The first question is, what should I say to my parents, mothers, women, if my brothers and minus 4 boys went with me at once. I felt like I had lost everything. I didn't know how to get back at all. I did not pay attention to the fact that we were constantly being bombed, cassettes were flying in.
The most terrible thing is the tank. There is no time to hide from him.
But I understood that I needed to gather my thoughts, because in my unit the guys are looking at me. And around 7 o'clock in the morning, the unit commander got in touch. He reported that they were taken to the rear, they were wounded, contused, 300. And unfortunately, we have one 200th. He stayed in Blagodatny, died from a shrapnel - a battle was fought and the tank took direct fire. I ask who it is, they say Serhii Khlystun, in whose honor we recently opened a chapel.
Then I understood what human life is and what it is like when you are a commander and responsible for your subordinates. Here, in Odessa, when you are the chief of security, it is completely different.
The second question is, when you are there, views generally change. You are very angry with those who called "Russian peace", with all these Russians, you simply hate them. You hate Putin, you hate everything that somehow connects with Russia.
I'm sure it will last forever. My son is 7 years old and he says: “Dad, did we beat Russia? We will definitely defeat it. But I want to beat the Russians," and this is a 7-year-old child.
I have a daughter, she is 2 years old. When they arrive, she hides under the table. It is wrong for children to live like this, in such conditions, our little children.
Russia is an aggressor, Russia is a terrorist country. We will hate her all our lives. Although Russia said that there are banders, nationalists. They themselves have made us nationalists and everyone else.
You have two more brothers. Where are they now?
One brother, Oleksiy, is in Tsunami. And unfortunately, he was injured. He has been in the hospital for more than a month. And Oleksandr, the middle brother, was with me. All three brothers went to the front line in the Kherson direction.
At the front, did such fraternal support help you or, on the contrary, hinder you?
He was very worried and understood that two more brothers were on the front line. Not only that, but for the first time, my mother did not even know that Oleksii, the older brother, was on the front lines. We tried to hide it from our mother as much as possible. She didn't know he was there for about a month.
She always called and cried, always worried, "Children, go home already. Why are the second children at home, and you are at war?".
When she found out that Lyosha was also in the war, it was even more difficult for her morally. When he got to the hospital, she did not know. We also tried to hide it all the time, because he was in a very difficult condition, there were lapses in memory. When he started talking little by little, then we told her and she came to him.
It is very difficult when all three brothers are on the front line. Sasha performed combat tasks and there are results where the enemy suffered from him. I was also worried about him, there were flights after him. He drove even further into the sector, performed tasks.
Oleksiy is still in the hospital, being treated. They say he can't walk well, he can't see in one eye. But I hope everything will be alright.
In your opinion, how is the enemy's army different from ours? How would you characterize it?
What are they fighting for? (spreads hands - ed.) they themselves do not understand. The enemy's army is marauders, poor people, beggars. They are savages. Their propaganda works well. I have the feeling that they have no brains at all.
Ukrainian army - we are fighting for our Independence, for our land, for the Motherland. And every patriot of Ukraine, everyone who is a defender, he is on the front line.
We have patriotism. And the question is not in the salary, the question is not in anything at all. We are obliged to defend our state, because the enemy has attacked us. There are two big differences between our army and the Russian army: believe me, if we had as much equipment and weapons as theirs, we would have already taken Russia. It was annexed to Ukraine. Compared to our patriotism, this is heaven and earth.
Don't some experts belittle the merits of the Ukrainian army, ridiculing the tactics of the Russian military in conducting the war?
In order to say something, you need to go to the front line, stay there for 2-3 weeks, a month. Understand and feel. Not in the rear, where the 5th or 6th line of defense is, but in sector zero or in the gray zone - where the battles are going on, where you are covered with artillery, when you cannot look out from under the basement or from the trench. You have to go there, and then you can say something. And to sit in the office and tell that they don't have this or that is such a delusion.
We will defend our Ukraine to the last drop of blood. We will not allow Russia to come here. We are Ukrainians, strong, indomitable, and we will figure things out ourselves in our state.
How do you see our Victory?
The whole world has already understood that the victory will be ours. How do I see her? I am a realist. It depends on how much our Western partners will help us in the future. But I will tell you this, if they give us even more weapons, then the victory will be faster.
In Russia, they don't want to go to war, but here we have queues at military mats. Yes, we have men who fled abroad. Well, nothing, we are defenders, we will definitely give them flowers on March 8 (laughs — Ed). I do not respect such people and I say it frankly. For me, these are not patriots of Ukraine, they are traitors. But if they were to do harm here, then let them sit there.
I am Ukrainian, I grew up here. I don't understand how you can live in another country. This is my Ukraine, this is my land, my parents are here. Therefore, the victory will definitely be ours.
Has the war changed your attitude towards life, people, family, business and politics?
As for politics, I was a pro-Ukrainian deputy anyway. I understood that Ukraine is our state, that we don't need anyone here. Partners, yes, are needed. But not like Russia, because it is an unscrupulous neighbor. This is a raider, this is a killer, this is a terrorist.
When we returned home, on rotation, how savages were ( laughs — Ed). So we go and the light is on in the street, and for us it's "oh, the light is on." Just went and took a hot shower, the military will understand, it's just luck. And when you lie down on a white bed, you are generally a king.
There you are in basements, trenches, swamps. In the summer, I'll be honest, fleas, mice. In winter, there are mice that climb on you, gnaw things, you don't sleep at night because they climb on your pillow. Arrive I came here, everything is different here. I just drive down the street and enjoy myself, look at people, see smiles. I'm just glad that I have the opportunity to call my mother and talk to her. Well, such subtleties.
You drink tea with lemon and that's good. When my boys and I could go out and drink coffee with milk at a gas station, it was a great joy for us.
On the front line, it feels like you are permanently somewhere in a cemetery. Blood. 200s, 300s. And he lived there for a day, in the evening you sit in the basement or in a trench and think, thank God that he is alive. Tomorrow will be another day. And you need to understand what to do next, what positions to take, what the tasks will be and how to perform them.
We will fight as long as it takes to defeat our enemy.
