Qarşılıq / Resistance is a series of stories of representatives of the indigenous peoples of Ukraine—military, and veterans who fought and continue to fight for the right to live in a free and independent Ukrainian state.

Today, Mykhailo Bastrykin, a 44th Separate Rifle Battalion soldier who joined the Defense Forces of Ukraine in February 2022, tells his story.

I was born in Kyiv, but part of his family is from Crimea and has Karaite roots.

In 2013-14, after work, I often went to the Maidan and took a taxi straight from work. I did not stop working because I was employed in a critical production facility. On one of those days, my friends and I agreed to walk to Maidan, but there was a delay, and we were late. It was on that day that the shooting occurred on Instytutska Street.

My relative had a cottage on Cape Fiolent, and we went there every year. When the Russian occupation of Crimea began, I wanted to go there to fight back. However, I realized that it was too late, and a military serviceman I knew dissuaded me. Even then, I thought: ‘We’ll definitely continue the work.’

In February 2022, I joined the Kyiv Territorial Defense Forces. Later, in the spring, I was transferred to the newly created 44th Separate Rifle Battalion. Our battalion was involved in the battles in Donbas. We took part in the battle for Bakhmut and the defense of the settlements around it. We were also involved in the Kharkiv offensive in 2022, during which the army broke through to Kreminna. We are still holding the defense there.

Today, there are very few Karaites left in Ukraine. I learned about my family’s origins when I was an adult. Of course, I want to return with my family to Crimea, which has been my home since childhood.

I think we will have a lot of work to do in Crimea after its liberation. It is not known how much the Russians have managed to do over the years. However, I believe that it will happen very soon.