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A LIMERICK FATHER has told how he is to leave his wife and son here to fight Russian troops in his native war-torn Ukraine.
Mykola Krutsyk, who has lived and worked in Limerick for over 20 years is preparing to journey to the shelled city of Kyiv where his elderly father who is suffering from cancer has remained through daily missile strikes as he is too frail to leave.
Krutsyk (53) and a group of friends plan to take a ferry to France and drive through Germany and Poland before crossing into the Ukraine war-zone.
Speaking at his home, Krutsyk, said he is “going to Ukraine because Russia started this war and they are killing Ukrainian people, children, women, and I must help, I must be there to help my fellow Ukrainians”.
“Me and some friends will be going and we will be staying in Kyiv – this is very important as it is the capital city for Ukrainians,” he said.
“Some off my family, including my dad, are there in Kyiv city. My dad is too old, he is 76, he has cancer, he is very sick and he is living in the city centre in Kyiv, but he can’t walk,” he added.
“I have talked with him and he does not want to go from Kyiv, he wants to stay there, but it is not good.”
Krutsyk is leaving behind his son Nicolay and wife Liliya, who are preparing to welcome family members and friends evacuating the war.
“My wife and son must stay here because they can help as well from here. Just talking to me when I’m over there will be a help,” he said.
Krutsyk, who is the Limerick director of the Association of Ukrainians in the Republic of Ireland charity (AURI), has been receiving basic military training ahead of his departure.
Placing the palm of his right hand on his chest, he declared “my only training is my love for Ukraine, it is in my heart”.
“Russia will never take Ukraine. Russia blindly follows its government but in Ukraine, people follow people, they love their land, in Russia they love their master.
“Ukraine will not blindly defend their masters but they will defend their homes. We are a proud country,” he said.
The former electronics shop owner again returned to Ukraine in 2014 after Russia annexed Crimea to deliver clothes to children and other supplies, for which he was awarded with a volunteer medal.
Over the years he has collected eight such medals for his volunteer work for Ukraine.
Krutsyk plans to bring some medical supplies with him to the frontline, including thermometers, bandages, surgical stitches, ice-packs and surgical gloves.
He is also bringing military helmets, vests, uniforms, shoes and boots for those he will join to defend Ukraine from Russia’s invasion.
He admitted he is afraid, “but everyone is afraid, all people are afraid”.
“I am going to Ukraine not to die, I am going to help, to protect. If you go there thinking you are going to die you would not go, there would be no point.”
His son Nicolay (20) who was born in Limerick, said he had considered traveling to Kyiv with his father, however, he will stay to look after his mother and welcome relatives crossing the Ukraine borders and onto Limerick.
“Yes, of course I’m worried about him but I know that this is something he would do in a situation like this, I understand,” said Nicolay.
“I am staying, but I had thoughts of going but I have to look after my mum and other family members are going to be coming here so I have to be here.”
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It’ll be like all other government reviews – outcome will be a bunch of recommendations without any accountability for the failures
@Gordon Walsh: And someone will make huge money from carrying out such review.
@Dave Barrett: Yes likely one of the well known consultants whose names are acronyms
A review seems like a reasonable idea. I do think we need to stop making out that every LC student this year has suffered more than any human in history, the language used is way over the top and is unhelpful. Many actually liked not having to do the LC – and who could blame them – and more people are in Third Level than ever before so while some have genuine reasons to feel aggrieved, most got what they wanted or better with the bonus of not having to the LC.
@Diarmaid Mac Aonghusa: I feel the tactical repeat leaving certs got screwed – you know the ones who aim to repeat so they can drop certain subjects in favour of others that are easier to A1s in or get better bonus points.
I think we’d all be happy with a ‘simple sorry lads, but we messed up’ than a lengthy and costly review that will yield no meaningful results
Where did the legal advice for this omnishambles come from in the first place ffs.
The terms of reference for this review will be carefully crafted.
I hope there is a proper plan in place for 2021 leaving cert.Already these kids have been seriously disadvantaged missing three full months,sometimes being asked to leave the classroom because there are too many pupils,no parent teacher meetings,having free classes quite frequently,psychologically disadvantaged because they are not able to focus properly because there may or may not be a Leaving Cert exam.So Norma you better start talking about this now before there is another fiasco.
Review,commision.will take years.how long are them poor tuam babies left in the tank now since the government know about it
A shambles comittee investigating another shamble on tax payers money with no accountability on deadline or budget ceiling, give us shout I can do that
Will this included finding out how the contract was awarded?
Dog in pearls
Very suprised there is an independent review while there is ongoing legal action.
Another waste of time and taxpayers money. Calculated grade system was setup for failure and the result could never have pleased everyone… as a nation we would be better served just to move on and make sure LC 2021 goes ahead. Martin has a reputation of loving to commission a review ( see his time as Min of Health). Accounting firms will be falling over themselves to network for this work.
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