AP Releases Interview with Ukrainian War Hero
Caught in Fifth Attack, Suffers Tragedy of Losing All Four Limbs
The Associated Press in the United States has released an interview with Ukrainian war hero Ruslan Knysh to mark the fourth anniversary of the Russia-Ukraine war. Although Knysh experienced the tragedy of losing all four limbs in combat, he still has not given up hope.
According to the Associated Press on February 21 (local time), Knysh was only 16 years old when the war broke out in February 2022. In late 2023, the year he turned 18, he chose the path of a soldier instead of continuing his studies. His mother fiercely opposed her son's decision, but Knysh secretly ran away from home and submitted his enlistment application.
Afterward, Knysh was assigned to the 109th Territorial Defense Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and underwent basic training. However, at the time, the Ukrainian military was reportedly reluctant to deploy Knysh to the front line because they felt he was too young.
His first mission was to recover the bodies of fallen comrades. He told the outlet, "The bodies had already been left there for about half a year, and the stench was overwhelming," adding, "We had to carry them all the way to the evacuation point." He went on to say, "I am truly proud of myself for that work," and added, "I paid tribute to their sacrifice through actions, not words."
Knysh faced life-or-death crises in Donetsk, one of the fiercest battlefields between Russia and Ukraine. He suffered his first injury under a hail of bullets and a second injury from a grenade explosion. He sustained burns to his face and hands in a drone strike and even stepped on a landmine. On October 27, 2024, while engaged in combat in the Kharkiv region, he was caught in a drone explosion and ultimately lost all four of his limbs.
Recalling the experience, Knysh said, "Right after the explosion, I cautiously looked around and could see what was happening. My comrade Luka was shouting that there were wounded."
He is wary, however, of being idolized as a war hero, saying, "I am not a strong person; I am mentally very weak," and confessing, "In moments when it feels like everything is crushing down on you, there are times when I want to end my own life."
However, he stressed, "I have no right to betray the struggle of my comrades who gave their lives," adding, "I think fate may have another plan in store for me."
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