Ukrainian Jane: the story of the commander on the front line
Mykhailo Zahorodnii, Ukrainska Pravda. Zhyttia — SATURDAY, 14 MAY 2022
A Ukrainian with the call sign Jane is one of the few women in the National Guard in charge of a rapid response team.
This is not due to discrimination, rather to the gruelling nature of the tests that must be passed. However, for Jane, these were no obstacle, the National Guard says.
"Ukrainian Jane is not a fan of the American film about soldier Jane. This call sign was given to her by her colleagues," the National Guard said.
The war began 8 years ago for Jane. She began by volunteering, but soon realised that this was not enough for her, and she needed to join the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
After the start of the full-scale war, she defended Ukrainian positions near Rubizhne and Sievierodonetsk and clashed with Russian occupiers and kadyrovtsy [traditional Chechen security groups operating under the Rosgvardiya umbrella organisation -Ed.].
"There were direct contacts when there was a distance of literally 20 metres between us. They somehow walked thoughtlessly, not everyone had equipment, that is, it was a helmet and a shovel.
There were also kadyrovtsy who betrayed the ideas of the first president of Ichkeria, Dzhokhar Dudayev, and each of their shots was accompanied by shouts of "Allahu Akbar." It was very helpful for us," she said.
Jane remembered the moment when an aggressor’s anti-tank shell exploded while she was rescuing her colleague.
When our position was "dismantled", the guys pulled out the wounded, another guy with the call sign "Arko" and I tried to patch him up in the middle of the street.
I was wrapping [a bandage] around his head, then looked up and saw a rocket-propelled grenade exploding near me. I was lucky then. Arko was wounded because shrapnel hit him in the arm and leg," the soldier recalls.
Jane defends Ukraine together with her husband, but they serve in different units.
"We have been together for 6 years, we were not in the same positions, but very, very close. I sometimes heard him on the walkie-talkie, but sometimes there were situations when I wanted to go to them, when there was a very difficult situation," she says.
Jane does not lack motivation to defend the country, because first of all she is fighting for her child, who she wants to protect from "Russian World".
I just don't want my child to be in what's going on here now, this whole "Russian World" and what it is bringing.
Therefore, my motivation is more than enough, especially when you watch the news about Mariupol, Bucha, Irpin. Only our victory, but of course I want to go home soon," says Jane.
