Qarşılıq / Resistance: codename “Turk”

Qarşılıq / Resistance is a series of stories by representatives of Ukraine’s indigenous peoples — military personnel, and veterans who fought and continue to fight for the right to live in a free and independent Ukrainian state. On the Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Crimean Tatar Genocide, five Ukrainian servicemen and veterans of Crimean Tatar origin talk about their motivation to resist the Russian occupiers with weapons in their hands.

Today, the military serviceman with the codename “Turk” tells his story, he joined the Defence Forces of Ukraine on February 26, 2022, and nowadays he fights for liberation of his native Crimea in the ranks of the 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade named after King Danylo. 

“There are five children in our family, and my brother and I have three older sisters. My father always wanted a son, but he got two. Me and my brother. 

And if it had not been for the Russians, we would not have been the only twins in our family. 

Our grandmother was pregnant when the Russians broke into the young couple’s house and forced them to pack their belongings in a hurry. Like everyone else, they were given little time to grab at least the necessities: some food, documents, and a Quran. 

When we were little, my grandmother told us about all the horrors they had endured. My grandmother’s first husband did not survive the journey. Shortly after arriving at the deportation camp, her brother died from the terrible conditions of detention, and my grandmother found out that she was carrying twins under her heart. She lost them as well. 

My brother and I were born half a century after these events, but we have not forgotten the crimes committed by the Russians against our people and our family. And we will never forget. 

I will not forget my grandmother’s eyes as she spoke of the house stolen by the Russians and the children she lost. I will not forget the long hours of waiting for the evacuation of my badly wounded brother who was bleeding in my arms. I will not forget, and I will continue to fight because I have only one way. 

And this is the way to the liberated Crimea, to the liberated home”. 

The family of “Turk”, like each of the heroes of our project, was deported by the Soviet authorities in 1944, experienced many hardships, but still managed to return to their homeland. Unfortunately, the Russian occupiers deprived the descendants of those who were criminally deported 80 years ago of the opportunity to live in their native Crimea. That is why the “Turk”, together with Ukrainians and representatives of other indigenous peoples of Ukraine, is fighting against the Russian occupiers in order to break the cycle of history and liberate the native Crimea. 

The resistance continues!