“Above all, just come back alive!”

Now, Serhii’s family is going for aid to Germany. Looks like Ukraine turned out unable to provide an adequate treatment. It is a pity that the boy was not transferred in time at least to the neighboring Poland, where one clinic in Krakow performs real miracles in healing the wounded Volynians delivered there by volunteers. It is painful to watch Serhii using two sticks to lift up his wounded, bandaged limb. The man can only stand while resting his leg upon the sticks, otherwise it hurts very badly. Serhii is small and lean, and many people might mistake him for a child. He is indeed very young, being only 21 years old. But one has to look in his eyes, listen to what he tells of his experience, the Ilovaisk disaster, the captivity by Russians, the nights in the cellar, where he lay wounded, the betrayal of his commanding officers. The death of a friend, with whom he grew up in Lutsk... And then everyone will realize that despite his young age, he is a warrior and protector of Ukraine.

A campaign has been organized in Lutsk to raise funds for Serhii Fedotov’s treatment. He retreated from Ilovaisk in the same column, which was shelled, despite the promise of a Russian officer (and the broken officer’s honor is what still hurts Serhii today). He was mobilized to the Armed Forces in April 10, 2014 – before that he had served his term in the army as a conscript. Ten days he was under fire. When the column retreated from Ilovaisk, his car was blasted; Serhii got escaped from it and got injured in both legs. Yet, in the thrill of the battle, he was able to run nearly a hundred meters more. Then a sniper shot him in the shoulder. When Serhii was finally at a hospital in Kyiv, the doctors decided to amputate his leg – but during the operation they saw blood still circulating in the vessels, so the hope was born. Until today, Serhii has had 20 surgeries on his left leg. One of the operations was funded by Arvydas Slapsys, Lithuanian artist who had brought to Lutsk his exhibition, composed of portraits of famous Lithuanian figures. Slapsys sold five of his works on an auction – but there was still not enough money to cover the operation; so he sold some more of his works in Lithuania and donated the funds to Serhii.

And now a charity concert in support of the soldier is held by Volyn brotherhood of UPA warriors and the Lutsk city organization of the Union of Political Prisoners and Repressed. The concert has been dedicated to the Independence Day of Ukraine, and it is Ukraine, for which Serhii Fedotov fought bravely. Many patriotic songs and poems have been performed, but one poem set out in particular. Its words were: “you, above all, come back home; you, above all, come back to mother; you, above all, come back with a victory; you, above all, just come back alive.”

Until now, 29,865 hryvnias have been raised. Of these, 10,000 were allocated by Volyn Oblast Council; 1,000 hryvnias of his personal money gave Volodymyr Hunchyk, head of Volyn Oblast State Administration; 5,480 hryvnias were collected from the visitors; 6,000 were donated by the “New Lutsk” foundation of Ihor Palytsia; 5,000 by “Volyn-2014” foundation; more than 2,000 were gathered by parishioners of the St. Job of Pochaiv UOC-KP temple in Lutsk; the remainder was given by other benefactors.

You can also help Serhii by transferring funds to a Privatbank account (card No. 5168742025465851).