Kharkiv native Maria: Serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine
Maria, a Kharkiv native, returned from abroad to serve in the Izyum separate territorial defense battalion of the 113th separate brigade of the Territorial Defense Forces of Ukraine. Before the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation, she worked as a legal consultant, according to the Regional Administration of the Territorial Defense Forces «Vostok».
Initially a volunteer during the war, Maria went abroad for 4 months but couldn’t stay away and returned to join the ranks of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
«Pain, despair, confusion, fear for my little son. But I couldn’t stay away and came back, because I saw how my classmates, friends, and acquaintances were going to fight,» Maria, known as «Simply Maria,» explains.
She admits that military life differs significantly from civilian life in its intensity and responsibility, but she is satisfied with her choice.
«I will definitely tell my children and grandchildren at what cost we fought for the defense of Ukraine. We fight for our children, who should grow up in an independent, flourishing European country,» Maria emphasizes.
According to her, the biggest difference between military life and civilian life for her as a woman is the uniform. But Maria believes that the uniform equalizes women among military personnel.
