“Combatteremo fino all’ultimo russo sulla nostra terra. Ma verremo anche uccisi. Mentre stai leggendo questo, gli ucraini stanno morendo al fronte” – Denys Man, Soldier e MP di Zakarpattia

Denys Man – officer of the 4th Battalion of the 101st Territorial Defense Brigade and MP of the Zakarpattia Regional Council. From 2020 to 2021, he served as deputy head of the regional council and was a member of the standing committee on business development, industrial infrastructure, banking, and investment. He currently serves as deputy head of the standing committee on cross-border cooperation, tourism, and recreation. From the very first days of the full-scale invasion, he and his friends voluntarily joined the Zakarpattia Territorial Defense.

Here are excerpts from his interview with Suspilne: 

– *Mr. Denys, what was the morning of February 24, 2022, like for you?*
The first thought after reading the news was something like, “Well, here it is,” because the war had already been with us for several months, though we stubbornly tried to convince ourselves it was impossible. That morning in Zakarpattia wasn’t as terrifying as in Sumy region, Chonhar, Kherson, or Kyiv, but the realization of a new reality was powerful.

– *When did you decide to join the army? In what areas have you fought?*
The signs of war at our doorstep appeared long before the full-scale invasion. Russia’s war against Ukrainian statehood is not new. But this new phase required more people, weapons, and well-coordinated operations. Considering the earlier attempt in 2014 (ATO/JFO), the Russians should have mobilized many more troops and weapons if they hoped to break us.

I believed that the brave men and women who had held the line since 2014 gave us enough time to prepare. So I knew that in the next stage of the war – which was inevitable – Ukraine would need me too. Knowing that war is coming isn’t enough; one must take responsibility. The decision was made long before the full-scale invasion – the hard part was conveying it to my family.

My first combat experience was in Donbas. Then our unit took part in the Kharkiv counteroffensive, later in positional defense in Kharkiv region, then in Sumy region. I’ve been to places I’d never otherwise visit – but we don’t choose orders or directions of war. The vastness of the front line became clear very quickly.

– *You serve in the infantry. Why do you think the infantry is so vital?*
There’s a well-known saying: where an infantryman stands with his feet, that’s where the territory is truly controlled. Modern war may be about technology, but infantry remains the core of positional combat. Even with drones and surveillance tools, an infantryman on the front line is still the most effective combat unit – but only in coordination with air reconnaissance, artillery, and strike UAVs.

– *What has been the hardest task in your service?*
Losing people. That’s something you never get used to. But retrieving the bodies of fallen comrades from the battlefield and returning them to their families – that’s even harder. I see it as our duty, but it’s painful every single time. Those wounds never heal.

– *You’re both MP and a serviceman. How do you balance these roles?*
Since 2022, I’ve been a soldier – and I believe that should be the first status of every responsible Ukrainian. Everything else comes after. I can’t keep up with local politics, but when short leaves coincide with council sessions, I attend. I also respond to calls and messages from voters. It’s not full-time deputy work, but I’m grateful to my assistants who “cover” for me.