Qarşılıq / Спротив: codename “Tataryn”

“Qarşılıq / Resistance” is a series of stories of representatives of the indigenous peoples of Ukraine — military personnel and veterans who fought and continue to fight for the right to live in a free and independent Ukrainian state. On the occasion of 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, a soldier codenamed “Tataryn”, who defends Ukraine in the ranks of the 112th Separate Territorial Defense Brigade, tells his story. “Tataryn” Joined the Defense Forces on February 25, 2022, and today continues to fight for the liberation of all Ukrainian lands, including Crimea. 

“The most important lesson I learned from my grandmother is not to trust Russians. Never.

She used to repeat an old Crimean Tatar proverb: “suvğa tayanma, rusqa inanma (don’t lean on water, don’t rely on a Russian)”.

Bita told us that just before the deportation, which was later organized by the Soviet authorities, freight cars were brought to the railway station in Karasubazar, where our family lived at that time. The authorities ordered able-bodied Crimean Tatars to repair the wagons. They said it was for the needs of the army. But within a day and a half, the same railroad cars that the Crimean Tatars were repairing became graves for many of them. 

Since my childhood, I have been taught to study the history of my people, and in this way, I learned that the deportation of 1944 was not the only one, but only “one of many”. Moreover, my father always emphasized that it is necessary to study the history of the enemy because it is the only way to defeat him. So I studied the history of Russia.

Every year my parents took me to the rallies dedicated to the events of May 18, the date of the deportation of the Crimean Tatar people, so that I would never forget what our people went through. And the older I got, the more my parents and I discussed each rally in detail. But my grandmother’s stories about the deportation were usually short, she would start to cry, and because of her tears, she could not continue each time. I learned from my father that my grandmother was deported to the Urals, and from there they managed to move to Uzbekistan (this was allowed for families of professional workers). And later, more than half a century later, Bita was able to return to Crimea from the places of deportation.

When I was a child, I was surprised that Bita started crying almost immediately when she talked about the deportation, and when she talked about the war, she held on a little longer and managed to tell more.

Now I realize that she met and experienced the war and the German occupation at home.”

“Tataryn” is a descendant of those who were criminally deported by the Soviet authorities in 1944. His family managed to return to their homeland despite obstacles and difficulties. Unfortunately, the Russian occupiers deprived Tataryn of the opportunity to live in his native Crimea, so he took up arms to liberate his homeland.

The resistance continues!