Ruslan P. Khalus

Peacemaker Ruslan₴A difficult time for Ukraine. More and more often, tears appear in mothers' eyes and black scarves on the graying heads of mothers, before whom one wants to fall to their knees and beg for forgiveness.₴The war in Eastern Ukraine, which is covered, like a screen, by the three-letter abbreviation — ATO (anti-terrorist operation), insidiously takes away everything living and non-living. But what kind of operation is this that sweeps away thousands of human lives in its path, and its beginning is no longer visible, nor is there an end?₴Will he return!?..₴It is sadly true that deadly sorrow has settled in the hearts of our Chechelnik mothers, whose sons died in the ATO.₴During a meeting, greeting Chechelnik resident Svitlana Ivanivna Khalus and wishing her a good day, I always feel sadness, guilt, and pride… Sadness for the fact that no one can return a son to his mother; guilt — that he laid down his young head for our life, so that we could live in peace; pride — that there are such sons of Ukraine — true patriots, and there are mothers who raised their children to be like this.₴You stop for a moment before Svitlana Ivanivna to console, to support with kind words, but you can't find the words… There are no such words to comfort a mother's heart and dry her wet eyes from tears; I look into them and once again mentally ask for forgiveness…₴We planned to write about her son-hero Ruslan Petrovich in the district weekly at the beginning of August when he was at the front of the ATO. But the mother asked: "Let's wait. In two weeks, Ruslanchik (as she always affectionately called him) is supposed to come on leave, and you will meet with him directly." We gladly agreed, as knowing our heroes in person and writing from primary sources is always better. Fourteen days passed, another week went by, and the soldier did not return home.₴August was coming to an end, the last days of which turned out to be bloody. Ukrainian troops found themselves surrounded by bandits and hired killers of the so-called DNR in Ilovaisk. During the exit from the encirclement, despite the humanitarian corridor (August 29-30), our military columns were cynically shot at. According to the Ministry of Defense, 108 Ukrainian fighters died near Ilovaisk, but something tells me that this number is too low. After all, black crows flew news of the death of loved ones to various corners of Ukraine, which continue to arrive to this day.₴It was then that, for the first time, rumors reached Svitlana Ivanivna Khalus that her son Ruslan was among those killed by terrorists, who allegedly saw him dead… But the mother did not want to believe that her son was not among the living. There was no official evidence… Perhaps he was wounded, or maybe he was captured; she was ready to believe anything — just not in death.₴So from August 29 until the beginning of October, Svitlana Ivanivna Khalus, together with volunteers and acquaintances, actively searched for Ruslan. She even provided DNA material, which is taken from relatives of the missing and unidentified soldiers who died in the zone of the anti-terrorist operation, to expedite the search.₴"He will return! Ruslanchik is one of those who will find a way out of any situation, will climb out, will break through… He is like that!" — assured everyone and herself, mother Svitlana.₴The hero returned home₴Chechelnik. A quiet night on October 3. The continuous piercing ringing of bells at the St. Joseph the Betrothed Church. A lit candle… Another one… Again… There is no count of them along the road, from the beginning of the settlement (the traffic police post), through the central square, the park, and to the very house of the Khaluses, Chechelnik residents met their fellow hero Ruslan Khalus in a living chain with lit candles… Unfortunately, in a coffin…₴On October 4, Ruslan Petrovich Khalus was buried: with the whole community and with all honors. The words "Heroes do not die," crying, the ringing of the church and the chapel, gunfire as a tribute to the fighter became one whole — a heavy and dark day in the history of the district.₴Ruslan was the first whom the locals met and mourned with such genuine pain; he was the first whose death united people of different faiths, ages, and occupations. I think I won't be mistaken in saying that such a Chechelnik resident has never been seen before, and I am sure — there has never been such unity in the last quarter of a century.₴It is sad… I want to believe that Ruslan's death will be the first and last for Chechelnik. Although the overall picture of events in Eastern Ukraine suggests otherwise.₴The boys return home wounded, maimed, with torn souls, and, worst of all, they return in coffins. The harsh realities of today. All of them will enter the history of our state as HEROES, patriots of a true war, a war whose official name has not yet been given.₴And we, who live now, will never forget them!₴Memory Line₴October 22. Chechelnik School No. 2.₴"Today we hold a memory line for the fallen ATO graduate of our school, Ruslan Petrovich Khalus. I ask everyone to honor his memory with a moment of silence," — said H. I. Khymych, a teacher at the school, organizer of the meeting, volunteer of the "Peaceful Ukraine" organization.₴In the assembly hall, in the front row — the soldier's mother Svitlana Ivanivna and sister Lyudmila, and opposite — a memory corner, where in a black frame is their Ruslan, fresh carnations, and a lit candle of memory…₴"Mom, everything will be fine, I will be home soon. I love you, kisses…" — Svitlana Ivanivna heard her son's words on her mobile from the territory occupied by terrorists. It was hard for her, but she supported and encouraged her son, saying: "Take care of yourself, son…" — says the school principal M. L. Povorozny.₴And then, to the Khalus family and all those present, a projector showed step by step the biography of Ruslan's growth and maturation: here he is as a child, and here with his dad and mom, and here with his sister, the next photo — entering a military educational institution, and then — graduating from university, now — Ruslan in military uniform — smiling, and the last, the hardest, photos — from the funeral of soldier Ruslan Petrovich Khalus.₴And among the photos, the student hosts, nervously, with a tremor in their voices, told about their fellow countryman:₴"Khalus Ruslan Petrovich was born on April 5, 1977, in the village of Kozintsi, Lypovets district, Vinnytsia region. Ruslan's father — Petro Fedorovych, worked in the police, retired with the rank of lieutenant colonel. Mother — Svitlana Ivanivna, a primary school teacher, also worked at the House of Children's Creativity. In 1984, the parents gave their son a sister, Lyudmila.₴Ruslan attended kindergarten in the village of Katashyn in our district. In 1983, he entered the first grade of Chechelnik School No. 1. He actively participated in both school life and beyond. He had a talent for singing. He studied at a music school in the bayan class. He played sports, loved football and volleyball. Among school subjects, Ruslan excelled in exact sciences, being a constant participant in Olympiads in them.₴After finishing the 9th grade, he transferred to school No. 2, which he graduated from in 1994. During this period, he met one of the former graduates of this educational institution, after whose story Ruslan could not shake the thought of becoming a military man, and he indeed entered the Kyiv Automobile Institute of Ground Forces. With a good memory and excellent physical qualities, he studied well.₴After graduating from the university, Ruslan was assigned as a teacher in a military unit in the city of Kotovsk, Odesa region. After 7 years of service, the military unit was disbanded, and Ruslan was discharged into the reserve with the rank of captain.₴In 2006-2008, he worked as the head of the emergency service at the Chechelnik District State Administration.₴For three years, starting in 2008, he lived and worked in Italy. But the son's love for his parents and native land prevailed, and he returned to Chechelnik. He could not sit idle, working various jobs. Everyone who communicated with him even once speaks of Ruslan's good nature, sincerity, honesty, and cheerfulness. So could he, having the best human qualities, and being a military man in reserve and in spirit, remain aloof when a military conflict unfolded in Eastern Ukraine? He signed up as a volunteer in the "Peacemaker" battalion, explaining his actions by the need to expedite peace.₴As part of the "Peacemaker," Ruslan Petrovich underwent military training at a base near Kyiv, and after 2 months, they were sent into the terrorist hell of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. They were on duty at checkpoints, conducted reconnaissance, and helped the residents of Dzerzhynsk, Sloviansk, and Ilovaisk.₴Almost everyone who voluntarily goes to this hybrid war now says: "Who, if not me?". However, this war is too insidious, just like its perpetrators and hired mercenaries — inhuman beings and killers.₴And there are no wars without casualties.₴On August 29, Ruslan Petrovich was killed in battle near Ilovaisk.₴On October 4, the battle salutes in honor of the "Peacemaker" battalion fighter Ruslan Khalus shook not only the village cemetery but the whole Earth. The war took the best, most beloved, most beautiful, brightest, and dearest son from his mother and a true patriot of the country.₴Take care of yourself and your loved ones₴The memory line ended. It became a lesson of modern history, a lesson of mutual understanding, a lesson of understanding and compassion. It is hard to write this, but our children have changed due to the war: drooping heads, tearful eyes, and genuine crying.₴Believe me, they understand and feel more than we do.₴"Dear children! Our son died for life, so that we all could enjoy the sun and the smile of a mother. I will say frankly, I only remember all the good that my son did for me. So I ask you very much, always listen to your parents, constantly say good words to them. Always kiss your mom on the cheek and help her. Study well, do only good deeds. I am sure that you are the most precious thing in your parents' lives. Take care of yourself and your loved ones.₴It was in your school that Ruslan decided to become a military man. Later, changing jobs and professions, he said: "Mom, no matter what I work as, I believe that I was a very good soldier, I was and will be." So when the time came to defend peace in the country, he had no doubts about what to do. On the day of his departure, Ruslan said: "Don't worry, mom, everything will be fine, I will return…".₴I was waiting for him, we all were waiting for him. A month passed — we waited. 45 days — we held on to the hope that he was among the living. We waited until the last moment, even when I was told that his body was in Kyiv, I did not believe it. But the injury became too severe… I regret it very much, but I am proud that I have such a child."₴Svitlana Ivanivna Khalus stood frozen, kissing and tightly pressing to her chest a photo of her son Ruslan. A treacherous tear rolled down her cheek again, and her thoughts returned to her son's words: "I will return, mom…".