Name: Oleksiy Skvordyakov
Age: 28
Education: Zaporizhzhya National University
Profession: heads the Assistance Center to the Veterans of Russia’s War against Ukraine in Zaporizhzhya Oblast
Did you know? Oleksiy Skvordyakov was recently honored by the Cabinet of Ministers for his work in national-patriotic education of young Ukrainians. He likes to play billiards and sing karaoke in his spare time.
Oleksiy Skvordyakov left the battlefield for civilian life, but he always keeps an eye on his fellow soldiers – now as a head of the Assistance Center to the Veterans of Russia’s War against Ukraine in his native Zaporizhzhya Oblast.
Already more than 6,000 people reached out to the center asking for psychological, medical and legal help since its opening in October 2015. Skvordyakov, 28, explains they try to solve any problems the veterans and their families might encounter.
“People often come to us, because they don’t know where to find answers,” Skvordyakov told the Kyiv Post. They often deal with job-seeking and property questions. One of the accomplished projects, he says, was to ensure free nutrition for the children of war veterans.
At the center, he works together with fellow veterans which makes this process “a lot easier” because he understands the soldiers’ routine.
Skvordyakov was mobilized to the army in early 2014 after Russian annexation of Crimea. He served with the 79th Airmobile Brigade. He never hesitated to join the army and his family accepted his choice. Now his father is serving in the disputed Donbas.
Over the course of 2014, Skvordyakov went through a number of hot spots, including Luhansk Oblast’s Izvaryne and Zelenopillya where Kremlin-backed separatists attacked Ukrainian positions using Grad missile launchers in July 2014. According to official figures, at least 19 Ukrainian servicemen were killed in Zelenopillya. He also took part in a battle for Donetsk Oblasts Sloviansk and Savur Mohyla, a hill of strategic importance in Donetsk Oblast close to the Russian border.
“I was basically all over the border,” he adds.
When he came back home after serving in the army, it took him at least three months to adjust to civilian life. Being with fellow soldiers helped a lot. “It was a very difficult time,” Skvordyakov recalls. “When we came back, we shared a place together and just tried to go out, walk, watch movies or go dance sometimes.” Later, he was nominated to work for the local Assistance Center to the Veterans.
One of his main activities now is to inculcate young Ukrainians with patriotism. They invite soldiers to talk to students and they all benefit from this experience.
“Talking to young people helps soldiers to forget about the war, and children have great respect to people in uniform,” Skvordyakov explains.
