Serhiy Tkachenko, ataman of the Pryluky Cossack Regiment, member of the Pryluky City Council, member of the European Party of Ukraine, told us about preparations for a full-scale invasion, the defense of his hometown, volunteer activities, and, of course, about the people of Pryluky.
– Serhiy, what was the morning of the full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022 like for you?
– On February 23, I celebrated my birthday. And at 4 a.m. on February 24, as the ataman of the Pryluky Cossack Regiment, I was woken up by a call from my clerk, who informed me that a full-scale war had begun. I can tell you that we were ready. We understood that a full-scale invasion would happen sooner or later, we just did not know the exact date and how it would start. We had developed a warning system for this case, a special SOS signal, and instructions for each Cossack.
– So all the personnel of the Pryluky Cossack Regiment were already assembled on February 24?
– Yes. On February 24, at 6 am, all the personnel of the Pryluky Cossack Regiment were assembled in a specially designated area. Each unit of the regiment received its own task. The combat unit went straight to the military registration and enlistment office to receive weapons. Other units were engaged in the arrangement of checkpoints and food supplies. To help them, we sent young Cossacks, who, in particular, went on duty at the bomb shelters we had set up in case of war. In addition, we actively contributed to the construction of checkpoints and, on behalf of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, took control of some of the entry and exit routes from Pryluky.
– You say that you were ready. How did you prepare for the war and how did you prepare your Cossacks?
– Three months before the full-scale invasion, we increased the number of basic military training classes for our Cossacks and civilians. The training program included a wide range of issues: from familiarization with weapons to mine action, medicine, and topography. While civilians were trained voluntarily, our Cossacks were required to do so. They practiced military affairs every day for 3-4 hours. In addition, we had one BRDM, which I bought eight years ago. We had off-road vehicles. And we had just managed to get it all in order before the start of the full-scale war, so we could be on wheels.
– When did the occupying Russian troops approach Pryluky?
– On February 26, the occupiers stopped eight kilometers from Pryluky. The town was defended by the Pryluky Cossack Regiment, local territorial defense, Armed Forces units and soldiers from the local military enlistment office. On the basis of the 5th school, people independently set up a volunteer center where they made protective hedgehogs, etc. The residents of Pryluky were so active in defense that I can honestly say that the “orcs” were afraid to enter the city. The enemy was tracking our activity using quadcopters, unfortunately, we were not able to shoot them all down. And the enemy saw that the city had turned into an anthill, where everyone was doing their own thing and preparing to meet the occupiers not with flowers in their hands. I’ll give you one example: we had one unclosed direction to the city from Ichnia. And we received an order to close this direction, because an enemy column, numbering more than 300 units of equipment, was moving along it towards Pryluky. I immediately send out a call to our telegram channel “Nebayduzhi Pryluchany”. And I can’t tell you how shocked I was! In an instant, equipment and supplies for the checkpoint were brought to this point. Some people were carrying tires in their own vehicles, others concrete blocks, others bricks on bicycles, some were carrying freshly dug up tires from their yards, even old ladies. Some were cutting down trees. In 45 minutes we managed to barricade this entrance to the city and get all the civilians out of there! I was so impressed that I cannot even describe it to you in words. One thing I can say is that I am proud of our people.
– How long did the defense of Pryluky last?
– The defense lasted from February 26 to the end of March. But I can’t tell you the details. I will be happy to share them after the victory. The only thing I can say is that in cooperation with the Ukrainian Armed Forces, we were able to capture more than ten pieces of equipment from the enemy, which we put to the defense of the city or handed over to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
– Sergiy, has the city’s defense system, which you set up at the beginning of the full-scale invasion, been preserved? Are you ready to repel the enemy if necessary?
– Our combat unit, one hundred Cossacks, went to serve in the Ukrainian Armed Forces as soon as the threat to Pryluky was over. They serve in different parts of the frontline, including near Bakhmut. But at the same time, we realize that the war is not over yet. That is why, although we have returned all the equipment and weapons that we “squeezed” from the “orcs” and that were given to us at the military registration and enlistment office, if necessary, we will gather within two hours of receiving the SOS signal and defend our city. Moreover, we are not wasting time, preparing not only the town but also the district.
– What losses did the Pryluky Cossack Regiment suffer after February 24?
– The worst thing for me is to lose my combat brothers. From the moment of the full-scale invasion to the present day, we have lost 28 Cossacks. It is hard for me to talk about it. The only promise I can make is that we will never forget them.
– The Pryluky Cossack Regiment has been engaged in humanitarian aid for a long time and systematically. Could you tell us how this work has changed since February 24?
– Yes, we have been helping people since 2014. And not only the city, but also the district. We provide food, firewood, medicines, and legal aid. But with the outbreak of war, we have also developed new areas of work. On February 24, we realized that the Russians would definitely attack the city and the disaster would not pass us by. We realized that the evacuation of women and children had to be organized as soon as possible to prevent panic among civilians. We had only one direction open – towards Cherkasy. We immediately established a transport connection with the west of Ukraine, where we evacuated the residents of Pryluky, and from there we brought humanitarian aid to our city and returned those residents who could not get to Pryluky on their own, for example, from Kyiv.
– Where did you get transport for the evacuation?
– To be honest, it was hard to find transport. The city was in chaos. Our own Cossacks, who were engaged in transport services until February 24, helped us. And they voluntarily and compulsorily took their own route, at their own risk, as they say. They formed convoys of 3-5 buses, with civilians joining them in their own cars. One of our Cossacks worked for a company that supplied large double-decker buses to Ukraine. They were located near Kyiv, just as the enemy was entering. I made an agreement with the owner, and our Cossacks took two double-decker buses out of the hell at the last moment, while the rest burned down. And these two buses were used to transport our women, children and elderly to the border to the west of Ukraine. In this way, we organized the evacuation of more than ten thousand residents of Pryluky and the surrounding villages.
-How did you manage to inform people about your evacuation plans? You had some problems with communication, and not only you.
– We were saved by the fact that long before the war we had created a telegram channel called “Nebayduzhi Pryluchany”. It was quite popular among the residents. Through this channel, we informed about the time of evacuation, the gathering point, the number of places, the contact person, and so on. It also informed about the points of distribution of aid.
– How did you help those who stayed in the city?
– After February 24, pharmacies and shops did not work. We opened a humanitarian aid distribution point in the city, we called it a “pharmacy”, where our volunteers sorted aid kits and distributed them to those who needed them. We had no contacts with any international organizations or large charitable foundations. And there was no time to look for them. We were helped by a network of our city residents around the world: our Cossacks who worked abroad, their friends, and friends of their friends. Everyone responded, found ways to deliver humanitarian aid and save their fellow countrymen. I am proud of my volunteers. They managed to quickly arrange the supply of all vital goods to the city. We did not reject any opportunity to attract help and responded to any request for assistance. We took on any job. Our Cossacks, for example, accompanied postmen who delivered pensions to people in villages near where the occupiers were stationed. For this, the guys received an award from Ukrposhta.
– How many awards and letters of appreciation have you received since February 24?
– We did not count, because it is not the main thing for us.
– How do you help the military?
– We handed over all the equipment captured from the enemy to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. These are tanks and armored personnel carriers. If the equipment needed repairs, we repaired it on our own and either handed it over to the Ukrainian Armed Forces later or buried it in the trenches to defend the city. The people of Pryluky helped with spare parts and money, for which we are grateful. Our equipment is still in service today near Bakhmut. We have one armored personnel carrier under repair, which is about to go to the front to do its job. In addition, we help the units in which our Cossacks serve.
– You have devoted a significant part of your life to patriotic and sports education of young people. You have formed a generation of young patriots in the city. Tell us, after February 24, did you feel the effect of this education? Did you feel satisfied with your work?
– Absolutely. I felt so proud of our youth, of our residents, of our people, that I am speechless. We did not send young Cossacks on combat missions. But they were so ideologically charged that even after a day’s duty in bomb shelters or in the kitchen, instead of resting, they cleaned their weapons, helped the foreman, and set up checkpoints. I even forced them to sleep. I definitely realized that everything I did to educate young people was not in vain. That is why we do not stop, even despite the war, we continue this educational process. We provide free basic military training for the youth of our city, and we recruit them to sports clubs.
– On the eve of the local elections in 2020, you managed to form a powerful and large team of like-minded people around you. Did you manage to keep this team together? Are your fellow party members by your side?
– I can tell you that we not only managed to keep the team, but also to significantly increase it! People saw what we did in the most difficult times for the city. People not only trusted us, but also wanted to be close to us and work together.
– How do you see Ukraine’s victory?
– Reaching the borders in 1991, liberating our land from the occupiers. After that, we will rebuild everything and live happily, as we deserve.
– Where will we celebrate the victory?
– You know that I have a Cossack fortress near Pryluky. I have already warned all my friends and colleagues that after the victory I am waiting for everyone there. I also invite you and all our fellow party members.
– Serhiy! Until we win, what gives you the strength to keep the line?
– I have already answered this question. I am proud to be a Ukrainian and to live next to people who did not hesitate to defend their hometown as one. I am ready to die for them. They give me the strength to fight.
The interview was conducted by Yulia Pidkurhanna