Interview: Daughter of Fallen Crimean Tatar Soldier Speaks Out

YUSUF INAN - INTERVIEW

WISE NEWS PRESS / ODESA, UKRAINE — NOVEMBER 19, 2025

The following is an interview with Zarēm Saribilyalova, the daughter of Asan Seydametov, a Crimean Tatar soldier martyred in the conflict in Donbas. The interview discusses his life, his sacrifice for Ukraine, and his family’s call for greater recognition for all fallen defenders.

YUSUF İNAN: First of all, greetings. May your father’s soul rest in peace.

YUSUF İNAN: Could you briefly introduce yourself?

Zarēm Saribilyalova: I am the eldest daughter of Asan Dilyaverovych. I am 22 years old and my profession is a hairdresser.

YUSUF İNAN: Could you tell us about your father, Asan Dilyaverovych Seydametov?

Zarēm Saribilyalova: Asan Dilyaverovych Seydametov. His call sign was Tatarin.

My father was fair, honest, brave, courageous, a true patriot, a loving father and a devoted husband. He wanted Crimea to return to Ukraine.  And he never wanted his children to see or experience war.

He went to war back in 2016. He was awarded medals, commendations, and they wrote about him in local newspapers.

YUSUF İNAN: Could you tell us about your family?

Zarēm Saribilyalova: We are a big family. We have 4 daughters. I am the oldest, and I also have a daughter—my parents' first granddaughter.

YUSUF İNAN: What was your father, Asan Dilyaverovych Seydametov, doing when the Russian invasion began? How did he enter the army? Was he a volunteer, or was he drafted under mobilization law?

Zarēm Saribilyalova: At the time of the Russian invasion, Dad was in the Mykolaiv region. He was under contract. His service was supposed to end in April–May.

YUSUF İNAN: When and where was Asan Dilyaverovych Seydametov martyred?

Zarēm Saribilyalova: Asan Seydametov was killed on January 23, 2023, in Donbas, near Bakhmut, in the village of Kurdyumivka.

YUSUF İNAN: When did you receive the news of your father's martyrdom? What did you feel at that moment?

Zarēm Saribilyalova: I remember almost nothing from that terrible day. I didn't believe what happened... I thought maybe they made a mistake and Dad was alive... but no... they brought the official document about his death.

YUSUF İNAN: What did your father do after the occupation of Crimea?

Zarēm Saribilyalova: Dad went to serve starting in 2016. He went through Pisky and was in the battles for Donetsk Airport. He really wanted to liberate Crimea and Eastern Ukraine.

YUSUF İNAN: What did your father, Asan Dilyaverovych Seydametov, do after the Russian invasion?

Zarēm Saribilyalova: He evacuated his family and parents from occupied Henichesk. He then went to the front line.

YUSUF İNAN: Where does your family live now?

Zarēm Saribilyalova: We currently live in the Odesa region.

YUSUF İNAN: Where is the grave of your father, Asan Dilyaverovych Seydametov?

Zarēm Saribilyalova: At the Western Cemetery in Odesa.

YUSUF İNAN: How often do you visit the cemetery?

Zarēm Saribilyalova: Often. We go together with the family whenever possible.

YUSUF İNAN: How has the martyrdom of your father, Asan Dilyaverovych Seydametov, affected your family?

Zarēm Saribilyalova: It is very difficult to live without him.

YUSUF İNAN: Did you live in Crimea? Do you have family members living in Crimea?

Zarēm Saribilyalova: No, I did not live in Crimea. There are relatives who live in Crimea.

YUSUF İNAN: Did any of your family members leave Ukraine for another country when the Russian invasion began?

Zarēm Saribilyalova: My father's parents are currently living abroad.

YUSUF İNAN: How many years have you been living in Odesa?

Zarēm Saribilyalova: Since May 2022.

YUSUF İNAN: Which culture in Ukraine are you closer to? Crimean Tatar culture or Ukrainian culture?

Zarēm Saribilyalova: Crimean Tatar.

YUSUF İNAN: How does a Crimean Tatar feel in Ukraine?

Zarēm Saribilyalova: Good. Not oppressed.

YUSUF İNAN: Have you come to Turkey? What do you think about Turkey?

Zarēm Saribilyalova: I currently live in Ukraine.

YUSUF İNAN: How is life in Odesa now?

Zarēm Saribilyalova: Life is not bad. But I want to return to my native Henichesk—my homeland, Crimea, and the Sea of Azov.

YUSUF İNAN: Do you have a plan for the future? What are your thoughts?

Zarēm Saribilyalova: Now is such a time that I cannot make plans for the future. I live one day at a time and pray for our defenders and for victory.

YUSUF İNAN: How do you feel without your father? Do you miss your father?

Zarēm Saribilyalova: I miss him very much.

YUSUF İNAN: Do you have a message for the President of Ukraine, Mr. Zelenskyy?

Zarēm Saribilyalova: Yes, I do. I ask the President to award the title of Hero to every fallen defender. Every one of them deserves it. They give their lives for ours. They fight for the freedom and independence of Ukraine. For our East and for Crimea.

YUSUF İNAN: Did you petition for your father to be awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine? Can you give us information on this topic? Thank you very much for your answers. In Ukrainian culture, those fallen in the war are called "Heroes." Muslims who died in the war are called both heroes and martyrs. Your father was a Muslim. He achieved martyrdom while defending his country. May God rest his soul. Rest in peace...

Zarēm Saribilyalova: Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Ukraine has lost many of its Heroes. Women and men give their lives in brutal battles for peace and tranquility. Their relatives and families will never see their Defenders again. And the memories of them disappear very quickly. Unfortunately, the title of Hero is only awarded to those whose death gains publicity or whose relatives can gather the required number of votes for a petition.

Everyone who died in battle for Ukraine is a hero! And since this is not debatable, I believe that the awarding of such a title should be automatic. So that they know, so that they remember!

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YUSUF İNAN / PEACE AT HOME, PEACE IN THE WORLD (*)

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(*)  As Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of modern Turkey, once said, 'Peace at Home, Peace in the World.' This timeless principle serves as a guiding light for nations striving for harmony, coexistence, and global stability.