The Story of the Hero of Bakhmut: Interview with the Widow of Pilot Maksym Fedorov

YUSUF INAN - INTERVIEW

Ukraine The Story of a Ukrainian Hero, a Lieutenant Colonel Pilot! The Story of the Hero of Bakhmut, Pilot Lieutenant Colonel Maksym Fedorov!

YUSUF INAN: Who is Mariia Ivanivna Fedorova? Can you provide some information about yourself?

MARIIA IVANIVNA FEDOROVA: I am Mariia Ivanivna Fedorova, the wife of Maksym Serhiyovych Fedorov, who perished on December 11, 2022, while carrying out a combat sortie in the city of Kostiantynivka, Donetsk region, not far from the settlement of Bakhmut.

YUSUF INAN: Tell us about your husband, Maksym Serhiyovych Fedorov.

MARIIA IVANIVNA FEDOROVA: Maksym was born on April 14, 1978, into a military family. For some time, he lived on the territory of Poland, but with the collapse of the Soviet Union, Maksym moved with his parents and sister Ksenia to Myrhorod in the Poltava region, where his childhood and teenage years were spent. In 1995, he entered the Kharkiv Institute of Air Force Pilots, graduating in 1999, and was sent to serve in the Lviv region, in the city of Novyi Kalyniv. During his military service, he repeatedly took part in UN peacekeeping missions in Liberia.

Since 2014, from the moment of Russia's invasion of our lands, he participated in the Anti-Terrorist Operation, for which he was awarded the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, 3rd Class, in August 2014, along with many other state awards and commendations from the unit command and local government. In 2018, he retired from the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine from the position of helicopter squadron commander. That same year, he was employed by the "Ukrainian Helicopters" airline, where he continued to fly, carrying out flight tasks with humanitarian missions in Sudan, Mali, and Somalia. He also took part in firefighting in Turkey in 2021.

In 2022, with the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, he flew back from a business trip abroad at the first opportunity and immediately went to his military unit. He was mobilized to the position of senior pilot of a helicopter flight within a helicopter squadron, and just a couple of weeks later, he flew on a deployment where he carried out combat missions. Being directly at the military unit, he was also heavily involved in flights as he was a pilot-instructor and a 1st Class pilot.

He was recently awarded the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, 2nd Class, which they did not manage to present to him while he was alive. He was honest, fair, kind, sensitive, always positive, and believed in the best. He was smart and wise, enjoying respect and authority among acquaintances and fellow servicemen. People say of such men, "a man with a capital M." But on December 11, 2022, his life was cut short by a Russian missile that hit the helicopter commanded by Maksym Fedorov. The entire crew perished then: Maksym Fedorov, the crew commander; Vladyslav Levchuk, the pilot-navigator; and Vitalii Markevych, the on-board aviation technician.

YUSUF INAN: Could you tell us about your family?

MARIIA IVANIVNA FEDOROVA: Maksym and I met in the spring of 2017. Our family was created recently, specifically in 2018. In 2020, our little son Vladyslav was born. Due to the specifics of the profession, we saw each other quite rarely. Maksym was very often on long-term deployments, so we usually had to communicate by phone, or in the best case, via video call, and sometimes we didn't see each other for 8 months, sometimes for half a year. We had only just begun to live when all our plans, dreams, and our life were destroyed.

YUSUF INAN: When did your husband die? How did you receive the news of your husband's death?

MARIIA IVANIVNA FEDOROVA: For me, the day of December 11, 2022, is the most terrifying day of my life. Until the very last moment, I refused to believe that terrible news that my beloved had been killed. Only our little son forces me to live, along with the understanding that I must protect and raise our child for the both of us.

YUSUF INAN: What did you feel at that moment?

MARIIA IVANIVNA FEDOROVA: It is an unbearable pain that does not subside, but on the contrary, becomes stronger. I still do not know how I am supposed to learn to live with that pain and the realization that my Maksym will never return to us from this deployment.

YUSUF INAN: Do your children know that their father has died?

MARIIA IVANIVNA FEDOROVA: Maksym has three sons. From previous marriages, the eldest is Serhii, who has already turned 20, and Dmytro, who is only 11. And our Vlad, who is only 2 years old. The children know about their father's death; for them, this is also an irreparable grief and loss, which they are taking very hard.

YUSUF INAN: Do the children miss their father?

MARIIA IVANIVNA FEDOROVA: Vladyslav does not yet fully understand everything, so he waits for daddy, wants to call him, and talk to him when he sees photos on the phone. He gets unspeakably disappointed when he realizes that dad doesn't answer him; he starts to cry, and I have to calm him down, sometimes several times a day, telling him that daddy loves him, daddy is in heaven, and Vlad immediately starts to smile.

YUSUF INAN: You wrote an appeal to the President of Ukraine. You want your husband to receive the title of Hero of Ukraine. Your husband is already a hero. Why did you submit this petition? What is your goal?

MARIIA IVANIVNA FEDOROVA: To me, my husband is, of course, a Hero, but by creating the petition, I want him not to be forgotten, because there are few like Maksym. Maksym voluntarily returned to the army on his own initiative. He could have remained working abroad; he has three children, which also provides the possibility of a deferment from the army. Of course, I did not approve of such a decision at all, but arguing with him was useless. He said, "The Russians will come into our house, and I will be abroad? Who if not me? I have great experience; I can teach the younger generation who do not yet have great skills in conducting combat operations, and perhaps because of this factor, many are dying in this war."

I believe that Maksym is worthy of the award of the title "Hero of Ukraine" because he knew he was going to war, he knew that every deployment could be the last, and he was seeing us for the last time. He knew that every flight could be the last, but he went anyway because he wanted a better future for us. He believed in the best, and he perished there not only for me and our son but also for the quiet and peaceful life of others. I want to preserve the memory of our heroes so that he is not forgotten in a year. So that our descendants know to whom they owe their peaceful life in a free, independent, thriving Ukraine—that is how Maksym wanted to see his country.

https://petition.president.gov.ua/petition/182298

YUSUF INAN: Where is your husband's grave? Is it close to where you live? Are you going to visit the cemetery?

MARIIA IVANIVNA FEDOROVA: Maksym's grave is located at a distance of 20 kilometers from our home. This is my homeland; I was born in the village of Sprynia. Maksym and I went there very often to visit my mother; he liked it there very much. I often go to Maksym's grave; sometimes every day, sometimes less often—it all depends on the possibility, but still not less often than once a week.

YUSUF INAN: What are your thoughts as the wife of a hero pilot?

MARIIA IVANIVNA FEDOROVA: I think that we have no right to give up. We must defeat the enemy, otherwise, we will simply disregard everything for which our dearest people gave their lives.

YUSUF INAN: How did you meet your husband?

MARIIA IVANIVNA FEDOROVA: We met at the end of the winter of 2017 while on a business trip in the Luhansk region. Over time, we began to communicate more, see each other more often, and eventually, a relationship other than just friendship appeared between us. And by the end of the year, we decided to live together, and from 2018 we settled together in a rented apartment and began to build joint plans for the future.

YUSUF INAN: When did you get married?

MARIIA IVANIVNA FEDOROVA: Officially, we legalized our relationship on September 1, 2020, and the very next day my husband flew off on another deployment, from which he returned in April 2021, and we were already waiting for him at home with our little son Vladyslav, who was born on December 31, 2020.

YUSUF INAN: What was Maksym Serhiyovych Fedorov like?

MARIIA IVANIVNA FEDOROVA: Maksym was extremely kind, sincere, compassionate, humane, and trusting of people, which people very often took advantage of. And he was also an extremely smart, wise person, always measured in his actions. He did not stop learning; he constantly improved his skills and abilities in his profession, which he loved very much. He loved the sky and flying immensely. He was improving his knowledge of the English language. He could always come to help. He strove to pass on his knowledge and skills to others; he was an excellent teacher and was very happy when his knowledge benefited others. He was an exemplary husband, father, son, and simply a friend.

YUSUF INAN: Do you communicate with your husband's friends?

MARIIA IVANIVNA FEDOROVA: I communicate with my husband's friends; sometimes I turn to them for help.

YUSUF INAN: Your husband was a military man. Did he foresee that Russia would attack Ukraine?

MARIIA IVANIVNA FEDOROVA: My husband, as a military man, analyzing the situation that was developing at that time, was practically sure that Russia would attack us. There was some hope that this would not happen, but unfortunately, it did happen.

YUSUF INAN: Did he have any advice for you?

MARIIA IVANIVNA FEDOROVA: When the full-scale invasion of Russian troops onto our lands took place, my husband was on a long-term deployment in Africa. Over the phone, we discussed a certain plan of action in case of war, and of course, he said that if necessary, Vlad and I should go abroad.

YUSUF INAN: Are you in a safe place now?

MARIIA IVANIVNA FEDOROVA: My son and I did not go anywhere, and I hope that we will not have to leave our native home. We live in western Ukraine, in the Lviv region. Of course, active combat operations are not being conducted here, and the intensity of shelling is not like in the eastern territories of Ukraine, but still, one should not speak of absolute safety; we never know where an enemy missile will land.

YUSUF INAN: Do you have a message for the heroic soldiers defending Ukraine and for the people of Ukraine?

MARIIA IVANIVNA FEDOROVA: To everyone defending our state, I want to wish strength, health, inspiration, faith, and most importantly, luck, and for everyone to return home to their families alive, healthy, and with victory.

YUSUF INAN: Do you have a message for the President of Ukraine, Zelenskyy?

MARIIA IVANIVNA FEDOROVA: I want to wish the President strength, health, and endurance to rule the country intelligently and wisely in such a difficult time for us all.

YUSUF INAN: Do you have a message for world leaders?

MARIIA IVANIVNA FEDOROVA: I am very grateful to all world leaders, politicians, and everyone who supports us in such difficult times; without your help, we would not have managed. I ask for continued help and support in the fight against this hateful enemy that threatens the whole world, and we are doing everything to stand firm and stop the aggressor forever.

YUSUF INAN: Do your children go to school? How are Ukrainian children studying? Can you provide information?

MARIIA IVANIVNA FEDOROVA: Our Vlad is still small, so he is at home with me; he will go to school in 4 years. I am currently on parental leave to care for the child until he reaches the age of three, and I devote the maximum amount of time to mine and Maksym's little son. In the summer, we plan to enroll Vlad in kindergarten. Under war conditions, the number of children in groups has decreased; during an alarm, all children are evacuated to a shelter. Still, for me, this is a very strong worry for the child, but we must adapt to those terrible realities in which we live.

YUSUF INAN: Did you have a dream after your husband's death?

MARIIA IVANIVNA FEDOROVA: I dreamed of my husband several times. In the dreams, he is always calm, smiling, always at home, but sometimes he warns of danger.

YUSUF INAN: Are the wives of fallen Heroes in solidarity? Ukrainian defenders and heroes must not be forgotten; do you plan to create a foundation on this topic?

MARIIA IVANIVNA FEDOROVA: Of course, the wives of fallen heroes are in solidarity that we have no right to forget our heroes and must do everything so that the memory of them remains forever. Perhaps over time, all our efforts will be united into some kind of foundation, but so far I have not discussed this with anyone.

YUSUF INAN: Your husband died. Your family has suffered greatly. Do you need financial support?

MARIIA IVANIVNA FEDOROVA: Of course, families like mine need help, and it is ostensibly provided by the state, although my son and I have not received anything yet at this time and are living on mine and Maksym's savings. That is why I want to enroll my son in kindergarten and start working. However, no financial payments will replace a father for my child, or a husband for me; we have been deprived of the most valuable thing.

YUSUF INAN: What should be done for those who fell in the Ukrainian war? What needs to be done for their families? Do you have a request from the Ukrainian state?

MARIIA IVANIVNA FEDOROVA: The state can and must do everything to forever preserve the memory of everyone who gave their life protecting the integrity and sovereignty of the State. The State cannot take away our pain of loss and suffering, but the State can and must create all proper conditions so that those who have survived the terrible pain of loss are confident in financial protection from the state. So that our children who live in rented apartments can receive housing from the state, since their father gave his life in the war and will no longer be able to build his own home and provide for his child. We must have guarantees that for children whose parents died in the war, there will be an opportunity to receive free education in all educational institutions. We must be sure that the state will take care of the descendants of fallen heroes at all levels.

YUSUF INAN: Did your husband ever receive an award?

MARIIA IVANIVNA FEDOROVA: My husband received a great many awards from the state, from local government bodies, and from the unit command; in particular, Maksym was awarded the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, 3rd and 2nd Class.

YUSUF INAN: What was your husband doing when the Russian occupation began?

MARIIA IVANIVNA FEDOROVA: When the full-scale offensive of Russian troops began, my husband was on a business trip, as he was working for an airline at that time and carrying out tasks under contract while in Africa. But at the first opportunity, as soon as the rotation was carried out, he flew to Ukraine and immediately went to military service to carry out tasks for the defense of his state and us.

YUSUF INAN: How did your life change when the Russian occupation began?

MARIIA IVANIVNA FEDOROVA: It is unspeakably difficult to live when you constantly hear the sounds of the siren announcing an alarm. And to live like this in constant anticipation of news from your beloved husband, who is directly in the areas of combat operations—there are no words to describe it. I wouldn't even want to wish for enemies to experience those emotions, that moral and psychological state.

YUSUF INAN: What are you doing now? How do you continue your life?

MARIIA IVANIVNA FEDOROVA: I am currently on parental leave to care for the child until he reaches the age of three, and I am trying to somehow stabilize my moral and psychological state, gather my thoughts, and start working to provide for my son and me. At the same time, I try to spend the maximum amount of time with our little son, because I must now be not only a mother to him but also a father. Although nothing and no one will ever replace a father for him and give him everything he could have received from dad, because Maksym was an ideal father, and they spent extremely little time together. Maksym was very often on long-term deployments, and communication by phone cannot replace live communication. And now the war has taken our dearest daddy and husband from us forever and deprived our son of the opportunity to adopt any guidance from his father; my child had his father taken away. Therefore, I have nothing left but to compensate our son for this loss in all ways.

YUSUF INAN: Your husband served in the Armed Forces of Ukraine with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. You said that after his death he was given the rank of Colonel. Could you provide information on this topic?

MARIIA IVANIVNA FEDOROVA: My husband served in the army with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel since 2011. After Maksym's death, the unit command prepared all the necessary documents for my husband to be awarded the military rank of Colonel. And on January 28, 2023, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine awarded Maksym Fedorov the next military rank of Colonel (posthumously).

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.