Ukraine soldier: 'We must not let the enemy and the war eat us up from the inside'

Grumpy Old Men do a blitz interview with soldier and journalist Mykhailo Tsomyk.

Michael Andersen writes: If I could grant Ukraine one wish, apart from peace, it would be to have many more Mykhailos. To call Mykhailo “an upstanding citizen” is an understatement. I first came into contact with him in 2014 when he was a young, innocent university graduate from Ternopil, and I was the director of a media project in Ukraine called MyMedia, which was supported by the Danish government.

We were running workshops on media literacy and received 1,800 applications from the brightest young writers all over the country. The talent and the energy were amazing, but Mykhailo rose to the top as a serious, inquisitive, and strong writer, even at 23. The following year, he and his young journalist colleagues, who really were still “kids,” ran an in-house newspaper at Lviv Media Forum. Mykhailo and his group even managed to interview the leading American journalist and historian Anne Applebaum, who came to see them at their workshop (scroll down to watch that interview). Later, many of our young journalists, including, of course, Mykhailo, themselves ran journalism workshops in their local communities, often teaching much older colleagues.

Mykhailo (L) and colleagues at Lviv Media Forum in 2014.

On a personal note, as one of his teachers and later as his journalist colleague, watching young Ukrainians like Mykhailo “grow into themselves” has been a source of great pride, one of the highlights of working in Ukraine.

I talked to Mykhailo last week; he had just recently returned from the front in the Donbas.

Where are you from in Ukraine? And where are you now? Doing what?

I am from Ternopil in western Ukraine. I have been in the Ukrainian army for more than two years. I volunteered after the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022. Most of this time, I have been defending the eastern frontier of my homeland. Now, I am a junior sergeant (corporal).

What kind of work/studies did you do previously?

I am a journalist by training and profession, I graduated from Ternopil and the Ivano Franko universities in Lviv. I have worked in various media, including television. I also worked on a media literacy project for young people. In recent years, I have worked with the Ukraine Crisis Media Center. We cover the implementation of various reform projects in Ukraine, in particular, the decentralization reform and the amalgamation of local communities (so-called “hromadas” for self-government). This is a good basis for rebuilding the country at the local level, and I believe it will help us to withstand whatever challenges we will face in the future.

How has the war changed your life? Changed you personally?

War is an incomparable experience. Perhaps it would be more accurate to say that I am glad to have remained fairly much the same after everything I have been through. The same. Just like before the army, before the war. During these two years, I was almost never at home, away from my family and friends. But I was with my new brothers in arms. I also got used to appreciating even the smallest positive things and taking any of life's troubles more calmly and stably.

Mykhailo, the army corporal, with his team.

I have gained a lot of experience in the war, observing shades of good and bad in people, balance on the edge, and experience of beauty. But also the experience of loss. I have experienced death close to me, right next to me. After that, you beat yourself up to allow yourself to get close to people in the future and let them into your life, understanding that at any moment, they can die. Like yourself. But you are alive. And that means you have to do more. It's some vertigo. But it is clear. And life-affirming - regardless of war, death and losses.

What has surprised you most about Ukrainians these past couple of years? Good or bad?

Ukrainians are truly amazing! I say this sincerely. Faced with the greatest existential problem, they fought a powerful, bloody enemy. Sincerity, mutual assistance, courage, creativity, and honor are all about Ukrainians. But despite all the positive sides, our society still has many problems to overcome. We need to be responsible for our own choices and remain intolerant of corruption. Learn to be not only defenders but also good builders. We must not let the enemy and the war eat us up from the inside.

What are your future plans?

It's hard to talk about the future when even your tomorrow is quite uncertain. In the midst of the war, I learned to appreciate every day. After the victory, I want to travel a bit - to rest, recharge, and visit the countries I planned to see before the war. To start a family, to build a career - to live...

How do you see the war ending and Ukraine returning to a normal life?

There will be a lot of work. The enemy does not give us a chance to end the war other than with victory. Otherwise, we, as a state, a nation, and a people, face destruction. The most important question is how to achieve this victory. We will continue to fight with dedication for our people, state, and democracy. But in the end, the West must take Ukraine under its aegis. At least the regions furthest from the front should receive NATO or US guarantees (like Sweden and Finland). Putin will not dare to cross them. And without shelling of civilian areas and civilian objects, we will be able to concentrate our defense on the front lines. Рrevent the enemy from continuing to escalate. The sooner our Western partners realize this, the more chances they have to avert an all-out war that could eventually affect them directly.

Tell us one thing you don’t think people abroad know about Ukraine – but they really should?

It is difficult to pick out one thing. Ukraine is so interesting and so different! The best recipe is to see it with your own eyes, to discover all the beauty in person. Follow the example of thousands of foreigners who visit our country or live here even during the war. You can start your journey from the West—hospitality is guaranteed, and the impressions are incomparable. Armed Forces of Ukraine will do everything possible to make you feel safe.

Mykhailo and friends on the Maidan in Kyiv in 2013.

PS: In 2014, Mykhailo and his young journalist colleagues interviewed Anne Applebaum; you can watch the interview here. Whether it was their brilliant questions or her insights, this interview with the American journalist and analyst reads sadly well in 2024.