Mykola considers this victory his first and symbolic one, since today he is fighting for the ultimate, shared Victory over the russian invaders as a soldier of the 2nd International Legion for the Defense of Ukraine.
Couldn’t Stay Aside
“We understood which city the russian occupiers would try to pass through,” says Mykola, “and that we had to be there — at home. So we went to Chernihiv, and I stayed there. We began volunteering, and about a month later I joined a volunteer hub, and we continued that work together — delivering medicine, clothes, food, and driving out to areas of active fighting. There was a huge amount of work.”
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Later, Mykola joined the army and has been serving in the 2nd International Legion for almost a year and a half. He chose his unit consciously and in advance:
“Before mobilization, I had already answered for myself where I wanted to serve and what I wanted to do. Some of my friends serve or have served in the Second International Legion, and I had heard a lot of positive feedback about it. I had no doubt that this was where I wanted to be. I didn’t even consider other units. The road to get here wasn’t easy — but that’s another story. Now I can say it openly: I am with the 2nd International Legion.”
For a creative person like Mykola, the atmosphere and relationships within the team matter deeply:
“People come here voluntarily — that’s a big plus. No one is forced. Everyone makes a conscious choice. Then there’s the international aspect — volunteers come from other countries to defend our Ukraine. That says a lot. Over time, I became convinced that the 2nd International Legion is truly unique. I like the attitude, the way we communicate, and the way we organize things together.”
Times Are Not Chosen
Despite his experience and recognition in filmmaking, Mykola now holds a military specialty — one he prefers not to name for security reasons — and performs combat missions alongside his brothers-in-arms.
“Every shift brings vivid impressions. Every rotation is full of them. War itself is one continuous vivid impression. Of course, it would be better if it didn’t exist — but we live in the times we live in, and we don’t get to choose them.
One moment I’ll remember for a long time happened not so long ago. We were evacuating a wounded soldier. During a rotation, we were driving in a pickup when our comrades stopped us, shouting, ‘Three hundred! Three hundred!’ We took him, loaded him into the pickup, and rushed to get him out.
At moments like that, you realize how small you are in this universe — how defenseless, how vulnerable. In a millisecond, your life can change completely, or even end. Such moments make you think a lot about life, about values, about loved ones. The wounded man survived — we got him out.”
The Main Thing — Take Enough Snickers With You
Of course, we asked Mykola what he feels before each combat mission.
“You know you’re going to war, and the goal is to survive it. I’m always very happy when we return — because I know I’ll have a couple of days off, a chance to rest from it all. The main thing is to take everything you need and not forget anything — especially enough Snickers bars to sweeten life a little.”
Either You — or Them
For many people of art, who explore and portray human nature — its feelings, characters, and struggles — war is always a difficult choice. It’s not only about the risk but about the necessity to destroy the enemy. Mykola, however, sees it pragmatically — without unnecessary philosophy:
“It’s work, and it has to be done well. We try to do it as well as possible. Because here, it’s either you or them — it’s that simple.”
The Film Won — And I Was at Basic Training
Even while accepting the responsibilities of a soldier, Mykola hasn’t renounced his art, profession, or passions.
“Over the past few years, I made a film called Fierce — about Chernihiv during the full-scale invasion. I devoted almost all my time to it. Theater work naturally faded into the background — or even further — because over the last couple of years, it just didn’t feel relevant or necessary.
The film turned out very honest, very sincere — completely non-standard documentary cinema, what some might call ‘non-format.’ We held a premiere in Paris on September 21, 2022. Later it was nominated at several international festivals.
And even while I was undergoing basic military training, I received an email from Bulgaria: ‘Congratulations — your film has won in the Documentary Film category.’ I thought, ‘Well, that’s great — at least the film won, even if I’m at basic training.’ It was an incredible feeling. The film still lives on, continues its journey.”
The Next Film — About the Second Legion
Although military service and combat work take nearly all his time and energy, Mykola remains an artist at heart. The events around him and the characters of his comrades have inspired his next project — a documentary about the 2nd International Legion.
“I’ve wanted to make a film about our Legion for a long time. A few months ago, I finally started. It’s difficult, because I have to do my main job first and only then work on the film. So the process is slow. But little by little, we’re collecting material.
I believe we’ll make a good film about the 2nd International Legion. Personally, I think it’s a fascinating story — one that deserves to be told to the world: who we are, who serves here, and how it all happens.”
Our conversation drew to a close. Mykola seemed a bit concerned not to sound overly grand, reminding us that he hasn’t been at the front that long and hasn’t done as much as some of his stronger, braver, more skilled comrades. That humility, calmness, and responsibility for his words only emphasized his character.
Because with people like him, every word truly carries weight.
At that point, only a few days remained before his next combat deployment.
To learn more about Ukraine’s International Legions or to join them, visit the official website.
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