PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — "If I have to fight, I will fight."
Sasha is not a U.S. soldier. He is an everyday American — one of many from the Philadelphia area — who is volunteering to go to Ukraine to join the war effort.
The Feasterville man doesn't want to use his real name, for safety reasons. He has duel citizenship, but will be using his Ukrainian passport when he leaves this weekend for his homeland.
"If I don’t go, I might regret it for the rest of my life"
"I'm pretty much sure that Ukraine will win. Russia will have to withdraw," said Sasha, who added he isn’t planning on being part of direct combat.
"I have friends over there. I have relatives. I have a sister over there. So I kind of like felt I should be there as well."
He said something rose up within him, after the Russian invasion, for which he could not find words.
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"When the war started, ... the first three days really hit the hardest," he said. "I don't know how to describe that feeling."
That feeling, and his pride in Ukrainians’ courage and endurance, might be the primary motivation behind his decision to leave for his homeland.
"It makes me really, really proud ... when I see how courageous people are in Ukraine, how strong they are," he said. "Thirty years of independence really shaped Ukrainians. And you know, we realize what we’re going to miss, so it's worth fighting for."
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Sasha is a computer programmer and says he wants to use his brain to help Ukraine.
"I don't have any combat experience. I have no training," he admitted, but he said if it’s needed, he will fight.
"If I don't go," he added, "I might regret it for the rest of my life, when Ukraine needed every person to fight or do whatever they can to help."
And when he goes, there's no telling when he will be back. Men 18-60 are not permitted to leave the country with a Ukrainian passport.
"I know," he said, "but I think its important."
Bucks County trio helps Ukrainians fight Russian invaders
Sasha is not alone. Volunteers from all over the region are participating in whatever way they can, like former Army officer David Ribardo from Allentown. Though Ribardo cannot travel to Ukraine right now, he's an instrumental part of Volunteers for Ukraine. Ribardo told the New York Times that he's functioning as a "middle man" for the organization, pairing skilled veterans with donors that can help fund the trips to Ukraine.
Similarly to Sasha, three men from Bucks County have traveled to their home country, specifically to aid in non-combat roles.
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"We have iPhones, so I track them through GPS, so I can make sure where my family is," said Yuliya Penchak, who is from Langhorne.
Her husband Andriy Penchak, 42, father Valentin Drobakha, 62, and family friend Vasyl Kalyn, 45, have left their homes to help in Ukraine. They also hold dual citizenship. They traveled to the Western part of the country, not for combat, but to bring supplies for the soldiers.
"They brought 32 bags with them at about 50 pounds each," Yuliya said.
Those bags were filled with helmets, gauze, tourniquets, two-way radios, thermal underwear, socks, hats, Tylenol and hygiene products — all donations from individual citizens, pharmacy owners and businesses. A Polish airline waived baggage fees, she said.
The three men from Bucks County are relying on family and friends for housing and transportation, people who are choosing to stick out the fighting and not join the millions who are becoming refugees.
"My aunt lives really close to Lviv. My husband’s mom is in Lviv. There are cousins. We have a big family. Everybody is very supportive, and nobody is going anywhere," Yuliya Penchak said. "They are all staying, but they are all defending their land. I was actually asked recently if my family was there to get the other family members out .... Nobody’s leaving."
Yuliya has sent other volunteers with even more bags filled with similar items, but she added, they are transporting much more than supplies.
"They have a vehicle. They are driving women and children to the border," she said. "They are driving it around different towns in Western Ukraine."
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However, she explained, if they need to transport guns, they will do so.
The men will be using their U.S. passports, so they will be able to leave the country when necessary. Like Sasha, they are not volunteering for direct combat, but they say they will fight, if needed.
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The U.S. government is encouraging Americans in Ukraine to leave for their safety. The New York Times reports that the federal government officially discourages citizens from traveling to other countries and fighting for them, even if the U.S. diplomatically supports such nations like Ukraine.
The Russian military has warned foreign fighters that they will be treated as mercenaries and not protected combatants under international law.
More information on volunteering in Ukraine or assisting those who are doing so: VolunteerforUkraine.org
Organizations serving Ukraine that are also looking for donations:
- razomforukraine.org
- Revived Soldiers Ukraine
Learn how to donate to Yuliya's direct efforts by emailing Penchaky@gmail.com.
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