Oleksandr S. Kutuzakii (Kutuz)

Sleep peacefully, Sashka our Hero! The soul hurts, the wound does not heal… You will forever remain in our hearts

Bright memory to you fellow countryman, Warrior of light and justice, and a low bow for your courage and sacrifice. You are the pride of Ukraine. Thanks to the parents for such a son. Glory to the Hero!

And the mother ordered the soldiers to open the coffin… They refused her, they gave her medicine and water… She said: "I was preparing him for the war - And I will prepare him to heaven, and once again I will have mercy on him. …She did not faint, only her face changed. She only changed immediately, looked like an autumn cloud. And then she put an embroidered cloth and a towel into the coffin And patted the mutilated body of her dear son. She looked at the features of the face, the cuts, the bruises - And it was as if she was stroking a nightmare with her hand go away… And then we told her: "The priests have already come",– She still didn't allow us to close the lid. And she didn't say another word in her voice, And her lips trembled, probably in prayer for her son, And people around were whispering: "Fear… War…" And her eyes and forehead grew older every minute. When the priest said that now only God Decides - and we must all pray for our brother, She came up and said : "I will pray for two…I will pray from now on - for my son and for the executioner." We were all speechless: "Why for the executioner? Why?" The priest asked her to explain to the people… "Because the executioner probably has children and a wife, that's why… The punishment cannot affect only Judas"… When we were already on our way, she led us to the gate… . Baptized one by one, with tears - no end, no stop, What we - she said - from now on all her children And that they are obliged to live for themselves and for their son. She gave us food, water and wine on the way, And still in a colorful towel - bread and salt. She embroidered a towel for her son's fate, And his son will never, never have a wedding… We drove in silence. Souls and mouths convulsed, The grieved father and mother stood in their eyes… We all thought about one thing, but did not dare to say: Ukrainian land is not just beautiful - it is holy…