Roman V. Nabiehov (Shaman)

The tragedy of the Ilovaisk cauldron, during which hundreds of true patriots of Ukraine fell, including the fighters of the BPSMOP "Peacekeeper," left little information about the time and circumstances of the deaths of Ukrainian soldiers and law enforcement officers. Among the few facts is a phrase on a social media page: "Not a step back," which was published on August 29, 2014, at 19:36 by junior lieutenant of the police Nabegov. A few hours or even minutes later, he was killed… A graduate of the Kherson Law Institute of the Kharkiv National University of Internal Affairs, 28-year-old Roman Nabegov, who had completed his mandatory service in the Navy of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, had worked as an investigator in the police of Kherson region for 1.5 years. In the summer of 2014, after four reports that were not approved by the leadership, the man appealed directly to the then Minister of Internal Affairs Arsen Avakov, writing him a letter, the text of which was published by volunteers after the author's death. Here is this letter — a kind of manifesto of a volunteer: "Hello, dear Arsen Borisovich! Overcoming some stages of requests, I realized that, having the desire and holding the position of an investigator, it is practically impossible to get into the ATO. I would like to be heard and understood correctly. The decision regarding the choice of profession was made by me solely with good intentions and a genuine desire to protect the rights of citizens, and most importantly — their lives and freedom. However, as a police officer, I am in the Tsyurupynsk Police Department of the Kherson region and have no opportunity to get to where my help would be needed the most. I do not need any material compensation or benefits. All I ask of you is just a chance to be worthy of being called a police officer and to fight for my country, for the people who live here and who undoubtedly deserve a European standard of living. I believe wholeheartedly in the bright future of the Ukrainian economy and the political world status of Ukraine, but right now all I need is the opportunity to go to the territory of Donetsk and Luhansk regions as part of the units participating in suppressing the criminal groups that, with external support, bring war to our country. For every conscious citizen of the country, and especially for men, it is very important to have a chance to prove themselves worthy in difficult and dangerous times, especially concerning military officers and law enforcement agencies. As your subordinate, as a citizen of this country, and as a person who respects your actions in such an ambiguous period, I ask you to consider the issue of my assignment to the ATO zone for the duration of its conduct until the stabilization of the criminal situation in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, with the possibility of retaining my position as an investigator of the Tsyurupynsk Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine in the Kherson region and returning to my position in case of a happy return after the ATO. With great respect and hoping to be heard, investigator of the Tsyurupynsk Police Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine in the Kherson region, junior lieutenant of police Nabegov Roman Valeriyovych." In July, junior lieutenant Nabegov joined the ranks of the BMP SOP "Peacekeeper," and on August 29, he died as a hero… Comrades remembered him: "Roman came to the battalion with serious practical experience in police work… He wouldn't say anything unnecessary, but he wouldn't remain silent either. He had a philosophical, romantic nature…". His native Kherson said goodbye to Roman Nabegov and expressed condolences to his family on September 26, 2014, at a mourning ceremony in the regional palace of youth and students, during which teachers and classmates from secondary school No. 50 recited his poems, most of which were dedicated to the theme of love for Ukraine. Many local residents who accompanied the policeman on his last journey knelt before the coffin with the body of the fallen… Volodymyr Sheludko, a public activist: "I knew Roman for just a day, but it felt like a lifetime. I was an observer at the presidential elections. We met at the polling station in the village of Sagy in the Tsyurupynsk district, which he was guarding. We talked about everything — how he became an investigator, about life, and about the war… At the end of the day, European observers arrived, the British, and Roman communicated with them in English. What struck me in conversations with him was his sincere desire to be sent to the ATO. He said he didn't need compensation or benefits, just give him a chance to wear the title of a police officer with dignity, to protect his state and the people living in it during this difficult time…". Viktoriya Valevska, a public activist: "It hurts so much. I didn't think I would write. But I decided that you should know who exactly we lost, who Ukraine lost. I talked to him all day today. I told him everything I didn't manage to say during his short life. And it turned out I didn't manage to say a lot. In a terrible nightmare, I couldn't imagine that I would face this trial — organizing Romchik's funeral… I won't describe what those damned bastards did to our bright boy. I know one thing: the thirst for revenge and hatred will never leave me. He consciously chose difficult paths all his life. He even went to serve his mandatory service by his own choice — in the navy. He also went to war as a volunteer. He wrote a report and went. He was a romantic, a poet, a knight. He sincerely loved Ukraine with all his heart. If I hadn't met Roma in my life, I would probably have been convinced that such people haven't been born for a long time. He believed he could change the system. During our last conversation, before leaving Kyiv, I told him: "Romchik, maybe you should stay?". "Just don't laugh, Aunt Vita, but who, if not us?".