Interview with Ukrainian Paratrooper, Filmmaker, and Activist Andriy Volyk

From Writing EU Projects to Writing European History

Interview prepared by: Zoran Rajn

I met Andriy in 2020 in Munich during an Erasmus program. At that time, we spoke about social entrepreneurship, education, human rights, and civic engagement. Later, I had the pleasure of participating in his initiative „Week Against Racism”, which brought together young people from across Europe around the ideals of solidarity and equality. None of us could have imagined that just a few years later, we would be speaking about trenches, injuries, and saving lives under enemy fire. Andriy is no longer just an activist — today he is also a Ukrainian paratrooper, a soldier who has survived the battlefield, severe injuries, and losses beyond words. Andriy no longer writes activist EU projects — he is now writing a new European history with his own blood.

In this in-depth interview, Andriy speaks about his journey from activist to paratrooper and how war has transformed his worldview and relationship with faith. He discusses the trauma of being wounded, the loss of comrades, and the long road of physical recovery after no fewer than eight surgeries. He also shares painful reflections on peace, justice, Russia’s responsibility, and the international community’s delayed reactions. We talk about hope, personal dreams, Ukraine’s recovery, the role of culture and documentary film, and the vital support Ukraine continues to receive from abroad.

One of the key topics of our conversation is the humanitarian campaign „Building Bridges of Hope”, led by Association DoDo (Dobro Dobrim), one of Croatia’s largest humanitarian organizations. It is a crowdfunding initiative launched via the global crowdfunding platform Bona Fides Invest, aimed at delivering urgent humanitarian aid to civilians in war-affected areas of Ukraine. Andriy emphasizes how important it is not to forget those still living under constant shelling and without access to basic needs.

Finally, through Andriy’s words shines something that neither war, nor wounds, nor grief can destroy: hope — and a vision of life after war. That’s why we are honored to announce that, once he recovers from his demanding surgeries, we will welcome Andriy to Croatia, to the beautiful island of Lošinj, as a guest of the APOX Film Festival, where his stories and films will inspire many!

Andriy, we met in Munich in 2020 during the Erasmus program, and later I was honored to be part of your initiative “Week Against Racism.” So much has changed in just a few years. Could you tell us how your life moved from civil activism and human rights work to becoming a paratrooper in the Ukrainian army? Looking back at that time, could you have imagined that just a few years later you would be on the battlefield fighting for Ukraine’s survival? If you could go back and talk to your 2020 self, what would you say?

Of course, it would be difficult to imagine myself becoming a paratrooper because it is too drastic a change for me on all levels. This applies to both the physical and ideological aspects. All my life I considered myself a deeply civilian person. Moreover, I have always been an advocate of peaceful resolution of any conflict. I did my best to ensure that the rights of everyone in our country were respected. And in my ideal world, it should have been so. But the neighboring country decided to deny our fundamental right—the right to life. Therefore, the uniform of a Ukrainian soldier that I put on changed me not only externally but also internally. I no longer have any illusions that Russians can operate with such concepts as human rights and democracy. They must be held accountable under international law. What would I have advised myself five years ago? To train better and pay more attention to physical fitness. It is never superfluous. And also to take off my rose-colored glasses. Because sometimes life requires tough decisions that you may not always like.

You mentioned that you never imagined yourself in the military, but now you are a paratrooper. What was the most difficult part of the transition from civilian life to the battlefield? Before the war, you worked on civic education, human rights, and social justice discussions based on films as part of the NGO Stan. How did this experience shape your thinking and leadership as a soldier? Do you see your current struggle as a continuation of the same mission?

The hardest part was accepting that you have to obey orders. Whether you like it or not, if you are a military man, you have to follow them. But as a result, this leads to the army becoming a well-coordinated mechanism, and it also saves lives. I’m talking about my experience now. It seems to me that both public figures and the military have similar missions—to stand for justice and serve their people. Sometimes even at the cost of your life and health. So, yes, as a military man, my form of service has only changed, but the essence remains the same—to defend the rights of Ukrainians.

War brings out the worst in people, but does it also bring out the best? Have you seen acts of kindness or humanity on the battlefield that you will never forget?

On the battlefield, we are all brothers. We share the last piece of bread and are ready to save each other’s lives even under fire. I have not only seen acts of kindness; I have experienced them. When I was wounded, my comrades, despite the difficult road and security situation, did everything possible to evacuate me. I will never forget their act.

How does humor survive war? What was the funniest or most absurd moment you experienced in the trenches?

Perhaps the most absurd thing is that in a place where you can die at any moment, you stop being afraid of death. You joke about it all the time. I thought about why this happens. And I came to the conclusion that it helps you to be less stressed. It’s like laughing at your fear in the face, and after that it stops possessing you. And the funniest moment was when little mice fell on us sleeping in the dugout at night from the wooden ceiling. It was very funny. We were scared at first, but then we laughed for a long time.

Many soldiers say that war changes a person completely. What has changed most in your worldview, values, or personal philosophy since you became a soldier?

I began to appreciate simple moments more and realized that you don’t need much to feel happy. A conversation with your family and friends, a cup of regular coffee, warm water, a soft bed, and silence—and you are happy. Before I joined the military, I thought it was trivial, but now it is of great value to me.

You survived a devastating attack a month before you were injured, and then, in October 2024, you were seriously wounded. Could you take us back to that moment—what happened and how you managed to survive? You wrote touchingly about the soldiers who saved your life during the evacuation. Unfortunately, one of them, Yarik, lost his life in battle a few days later. How do you personally cope with the grief of losing your comrades? How did this experience shape your view of life, war, and duty?

If you count all the situations on the battlefield when I could have died, there were a lot of them. In general, I believe that I was born again 5 times in total. This includes my official birthday. All the other times death was very close, but I am still alive. This is very symbolic for me and means that I have an important mission in this life. As for my injury, I was spotted by an enemy drone while performing a combat mission, and it dropped explosives on me. I did not immediately realize what had happened to me until I saw blood on me. Then they brought me to a neighboring dugout, where they put a tourniquet on my right arm and leg. The pain I felt was incomparable. I remember screaming loudly and asking them to cut off my arm and leg because I just couldn’t stand it. Then the evacuation process began. At first, my brothers Oleksandr Katyukha and Yaroslav Lantsev were taking me on a special wheelchair. I can only imagine how difficult it was for them, because they were taking me through the area with only a narrow path, despite the fact that this territory was constantly shelled by enemy drones and artillery. Later, they were joined by another comrade-in-arms, Oleksandr Veselovskyi, and three soldiers I did not know. All six of them were carrying me on a stretcher to an evacuation vehicle. Another moment, and the operation to rescue me could have failed. An enemy drone spotted the vehicle and was ready to attack. Fortunately, there was a burnt-out car nearby, and by mistake the explosives were dropped on it. This mistake saved my life. Later I found out that a week later Yarik was killed in a grenade attack, and in early March this year Vesely, as we called Sashko Veselovsky, was killed as well. This is a heavy loss, and it is impossible to come to terms with it. During our joint service, these men became like family. Moreover, I owe them my life. And it is my duty to do everything possible for Ukraine to win.

You have undergone several surgeries and are undergoing rehabilitation. What are the biggest challenges in your recovery, and what kind of support do wounded soldiers like you need most? How can the public better support veterans?

In total, I have undergone 8 surgeries, and I have one more very complicated surgery on the nerves in my right arm. It is necessary to try to restore the mobility of my fingers, but there is no guarantee that it will help one hundred percent. I am very lucky with my doctors; they have done and continue to do everything possible for my recovery. Yes, I won’t be physically the same as before, and it’s sometimes hard to accept, but I am taught to be as self-reliant as possible. The best thing the public can do for veterans is to create conditions for full recovery. To make us feel like full-fledged people, not a burden.

You had to learn to walk again after being wounded. What else do you want to relearn in peacetime—whether it’s an old hobby, a skill, or just a way of seeing the world?

I really want to go for a run or ride a bike. I don’t know when it will be possible or if it will be possible at all, because a lot of muscles were cut out of my right leg, and now I walk with a crutch to keep my balance. But I would really like to feel this spirit of freedom when you cover long distances. I miss it very much.

How has your experience on the battlefield affected your relationship with faith or spirituality?

I have never considered myself a very religious person. I used to go to church on holidays and sometimes pray. But on the battlefield everything changed; I felt the power of prayer. It helped me to survive the most difficult moments of emotional turmoil: when I went on a combat mission, when I passed a dangerous area, I constantly read a prayer. I would wake up and fall asleep with a prayer. I would say that on the battlefield you feel the presence of God almost on a physical level. And it is very symbolic for me that when I regained consciousness in the intensive care unit after being hit, they brought me a small package with which I was taken to the hospital. The package contained a tourniquet, which was used to stop my blood flow, and a piece of paper with a prayer that my mother had copied out. She believed it would protect me, and I believed it. That’s probably why I’m still alive after everything that happened to me.

From your point of view as a soldier and a long-time civic activist, what do you see as the real reasons for Russia’s war against Ukraine? Many people still have a limited understanding of Ukrainian-Russian relations. What are the biggest historical mistakes that need to be corrected? What is the deeper significance of this war for Ukraine, for democracy, and even for the world?

In my opinion, the reason is simple: it is the choice of Ukrainians to live in a democratic, independent state. Our way of life and our values are a direct threat to the colonial aspirations of Russia, which has enslaved neighboring republics that are supposedly voluntarily part of the federation. We have set an example that it is possible to be an independent nation. Among the mistakes I see is that Russia got away with the war against Georgia, the annexation of Crimea, the war in Transnistria, and so on. There was no proper reaction from the world to these actions, and this was actually a test before the most brazen military invasion in the 21st century. Now we are struggling with the consequences of the diplomatic concerns, and they are catastrophic.

If someone were to ask you, “How will this war end?” what would your answer be? What does a just peace look like for Ukraine? Some voices suggest that Ukraine should negotiate a ceasefire or even make territorial concessions to Russia. As a person who has sacrificed so much, what do you say to these people?

If we make concessions to Russia, it will never stop. It will take a breather and move on, and it is quite likely that the next time it will knock on the door of a European Union country. Is Europe ready for such a scenario? Most of us also did not believe that they would attack us. Therefore, not a single Russian soldier should be on Ukrainian soil. A just peace means punishing those guilty of war crimes in accordance with international law. Although, given how much grief and destruction they have brought to our country and how they torture hostages, I have a philosophical question here: can we call Russians people?

The assistance that Ukraine has received from America and other allies has been crucial. Do you think that Ukraine is getting enough support, and how do you assess the effectiveness of the assistance provided? What do Ukrainian soldiers really need most right now? Some in the West are getting tired of the war and questioning further support for Ukraine. What would you say to those who think that their countries “have done enough”? Do you believe that Ukraine can win without the support of America and NATO?

If there was enough support, I think the war would be over by now. We all need to understand that this is not Russia’s war against Ukraine alone. This is Russia’s war against the entire civilized world, against democracy, European values, freedom, and everything we are so proud of in Ukraine. We were the first to come under this attack, but if we lose, we will not be the last country to suffer from Russian aggression.

If you could sit down with President Donald Trump for five minutes, what would you ask him?

I would ask him two questions: does he dream at night about the Ukrainian children who have been killed by Russian missiles, and how did America, which was considered the guarantor of democracy in the world before he took office, lose its position so quickly?

In Croatia, we deeply understand the suffering of Ukraine—we also experienced the Great Serbian aggression in the 1990s. Many of us see parallels and want to help as much as we can. What else can ordinary people and organizations around the world do to support Ukraine? What is the most underestimated but critical type of humanitarian aid that Ukraine still needs?

I am very grateful to the people of Croatia for their help in the most difficult time for our country. It is true that only people who have experienced pain can understand the pain of others. If we talk about the humanitarian assistance that our country needs, I would probably focus on the fact that we already need to think about how we will rebuild the country after the war; we already need a strong economy that can quickly respond to various challenges to speed up our victory. Therefore, training in these areas and grant support would be very helpful. I dream of seeing my country self-reliant and able to cope with any challenges.

One of the largest humanitarian organizations in Croatia, DoDo (Dobro Dobrim), is running a campaign called „Building Bridges of Hope” on the global crowdfunding platform Bona Fides Invest to finance direct deliveries of humanitarian aid to Ukraine. If you could speak directly to potential donors, what would you tell them about why their support is important?

Unfortunately, the issue of humanitarian aid remains acute in those regions bordering the war zones and in the very epicenter of the war. Here, people often have no jobs and, consequently, cannot meet their basic needs. Just imagine not having enough drinking water and food. You live in constant stress from shelling and alarm sounds. Your help is an opportunity to make these people’s lives easier.

Link to the campaign: https://bonafidesinvest.eu/campaign/dodo-building-bridges-of-hope/

The APOX Film Festival in Croatia, organized by the Relive Association, focuses on documentary films and has supported Ukraine’s relief efforts. Would you consider coming to Croatia as a guest to share your story and experience? If you could show one documentary about Ukraine’s struggle, which one would it be? Or do you think the most important film has not yet been made?

I would love to come to Croatia to tell my story and thank everyone for the help. There are already many worthy documentaries that show different aspects of the struggle of Ukrainians for their choice to live in a free country, so I would not single out any one. Of the latter, I would recommend watching the movie.

When the war is over, what is the first place in Ukraine you would want to visit as a free person?

I would go to Odesa. I want to walk along the waterfront again and smell the salt water.

After everything you’ve been through—war, injuries, and losses—what gives you hope? What is your message to those who may be losing hope in these difficult times?

My environment helps me to cope with all the difficulties. There is so much support around me that I simply have no right to lose heart and lose hope. I had a lot of support when I was at war. When I was injured and in the hospital, hundreds of people wrote or called me, even those I hadn’t seen for a long time. And this is very valuable to me. That’s why my hope is based on the people around me; they prove that after darkness always comes light.

If you could send a message to future generations of Ukrainians, those born many years after this war, what would you like them to remember?

I would like them to remember that our strength is in unity, and then we can overcome any adversity. I would like them to remember that the fire of this war hardened us and gave us the strength to rebuild everything that was destroyed.

And finally, imagine it’s ten years from now. Where are you now, and what are you doing? Are you still a soldier? Are you an activist? A filmmaker? Something else entirely? And where is Ukraine?

That’s an interesting question. In 10 years, I will probably be too old to be an activist or a soldier, so I will choose the role of a filmmaker. I like to observe life and tell stories that give people hope and faith in tomorrow. I will show my films in the beautiful rebuilt cities of independent Ukraine.

Link to the crowdfunding campaign „Building Bridges of Hope” on the global crowdfunding platform Bona Fides Invest: https://bonafidesinvest.eu/campaign/dodo-building-bridges-of-hope/