The Ministry of Reintegration is publishing stories of Ukrainian citizens who resist the enemy occupation in Crimea.

Valid is from Kherson but lived in Crimea for a long time.

In 2014, during the occupation of the peninsula, the man participated in a protest on February 26. He was abducted by enemy special services, and tortured, but managed to survive. The soldier reported that events between February 27 and March 16 unfolded quickly and tragically. He witnessed military units being blocked in Simferopol and russian-brought ‘Cossacks’ marching.

Valid immediately volunteered for the ATO zone after moving to mainland Ukraine. He is fighting with arms in hand for the liberation of his native place, Crimea.

“Crimea” took part in the battles for Ilovaisk, in the defense of the Donetsk airport, and passed through Pisky.

Due to his service in the ATO zone, he had to cut off all contact with those who remained on the occupied peninsula. The invaders consider soldiers with ATO experience as their primary target and biggest threat.

On February 23, 2022, Valid anticipated a full-scale invasion and took his family to the border that evening. By 4 a.m. on the 24th, he was in Kyiv.

Since the first days of russia’s full-scale invasion, ‘Crimea’ has been defending Ukraine. Despite having the legal right to travel abroad with his family, the man chose to stand up and defend his homeland, even though he has three children.

The soldier fulfills his duty to the state and hopes to return home to Crimea.