(essay)

After one thousand days of the large-scale war between Russia and Ukraine, many townspeople look differently at one of the most famous symbols of the Kherson region – ‘Legendary Tachanka,’ an 18-meter-long and 8-meter-high monument set up in the horizonless steppes of Tavria, in the late 1960s and devoted to the Red Army victories. 

In the 2000s, this monument, as a symbol of  the Soviet era, was going to be rooted out or renamed as ‘Tachanka of Bat`ko Makhno,’ an anarchist revolutionary leader, who invented this kind of a military vehicle,  armed with a high-caliber fully automatic machine gun ‘Maxim.’ There was an idea to arrange a museum of totalitarian regime not far from this monument too.  However, these plans were doomed not to be realized.

In the war realities of nowadays, on social networks, some Kherson inhabitants start calling this monument as ‘Four Horsemen of Apocalypses,’ or the ‘Road to Hell’ squadron from Anticrist, War, Famine and Death, taking into account the cruelty of the war and the ‘Satanic Stars’ on the Red Army helmet-shaped hats of the riders, called ‘Budienovkas…’

One of my friends has just come from this war-torn city and told me how the local people stood up against the fierce war games of the Four Riders and what inspired them to stay in this Ukrainian hot spot despite the daily artillery and mine shelling of the enemy.

Taxi driver, Peter, a 50-year-old man, said, “On the present day, the most annoying thing in Kherson is the daily attacks of drones. However, God helps me and ‘Tzukarok’ (‘Sugar lump’) too. You have never seen Tzukarok, right? That is a small electronic radio device, not more than a box of matches, with two tiny antennas, detecting almost all drones flying over your head… Thanks to it, I can work practically at any time. Come hell or high water.”

Mass Media Specialist, Grisha, a 40-year-old man, remarked, “Four Horsemen? Unfortunately, they attack from up and down, from any possible and impossible directions. Though, my smartness helps me, the so-called 6^th feeling. While going to work, I run from one tree to another, from one house to the second; I look thoroughly under my feet, bypassing all big and small land mines, all suspicious and non-suspicious objects. That’s why my typical pre-war 8 minute long walking route turns into half an hour adventure. ”

Homemaker, Viktoria, a 65-year-old woman, shared her thoughts, “I stay at home and cook somewhere two or three hundred potato pies for Ukrainian soldiers. I feel that while working as a volunteer I do a good job… I believe that one day Ukrainian guys will liberate the whole of our multi-suffering region…”

High-rank lawyer, Galina, a 62-year-old woman, admitted, “Though, I could resign at any moment, I will keep on staying and working here. Kherson gave me a lot, now I am just obliged to give my judicial and civil services back. Do you remember the words of John Kennedy, ‘Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country’ ”? Now it is my turn to reiterate these words to Kherson…”

Editor, Natalia, a 49-year-old woman, confessed, “Kherson, for me, is the call of ancestors. My grand-grandparents worked, loved and lived here; my grandparents; my Dad; my Mom; my kids. The city of my first love, my best memories, this horrible war… That’s our land and I won`t leave it under any circumstances.  No matter what comes, fire or brimstone, rain or shine, we will be working, living and protecting our city here, as much as we can…”

Bartender, Anna, a-35-year old woman, “Our café is one of the best in Kherson, with its airy atmosphere, fragrant flair, crisp coffee. That is not only my opinion but the opinion of all our neighbours… How can I leave it? And how can I take a small sparkle of joy from all our customers who can give up their souls to God at any moment? You see, artillery shelling doesn`t stop here at all. ”

Different people, different views, different destinies, however, all of them shape one ‘Flaming Fire of Hope’ that one day the war will be over and Kherson, Ukrainian Kherson, will revive from war ruins as Phoenix, an ancient bird of immortality.