In the grand scheme of this horrific war, no story is truly small. Each one represents the human spirit’s refusal to be extinguished, the determination to survive, and the willingness to support one another in the face of unimaginable hardship. These small stories, woven together, form a tapestry of hope, courage, and the indomitable will of the Ukrainian people to prevail.
…by Iryna Larikova (one of Ihor’s many friends)
War’s Toll and Resilience
War is about losses that entail terrible and irreversible consequences. War takes away everything you have, even your friends. Because of the war, I experienced the most painful loss: I lost а friend, who was a constant companion throughout our journey, someone I trusted implicitly, knowing together we could tackle any challenge with certainty.
War leaves a trail of heartbreaking tales of loss and suffering. It is difficult to do things for someone else when you have lost everything. It is difficult to support someone when you can barely stand. You need extraordinary stamina and resilience to keep going and helping others when your home is being destroyed every day. Every Ukrainian has experienced this test of perseverance and compassion.
A Heart Overflowing with Compassion
My dear friend Ihor was this kind of person. He was not afraid to take risks and always found strength and time to help anyone in need. Even from a tender age, Ihor had a deep-rooted desire to be serve and help others. His compassionate nature shone brightly – such that everyone knew they could turn to Ihor for help in anything.
Everyone saw his great potential and knew that a promising future was ahead due to his compassionate nature. Ihor possessed a remarkable knack for bringing people together, consistently offering his support to anyone in need, never leaving anyone to face their struggles alone.
I don’t really know where so much goodness came from in him. Despite being raised in the orphanage and knowing that his parents did not want him, Ihor somehow had this inexhaustible supply of kindness and unwavering positivity.
He taught me that true strength lies in embracing challenges head-on and responding with a resounding “yes.”
This is exactly what Ihor did when the war’s dark clouds descended. From the first day of the war, he and his friends rallied to aid those in need, their compassion a beacon in the midst of turmoil.
Ihor’s story is a small story in a big war. Although he did not fight in the war, he understood very well the anguish and pain of loss. Yet, with an open heart, he gave selflessly of what little he possessed.
Ihor worked as a taxi driver, and from the first days of the war, he used his vehicle to evacuate people from dangerous places. In the evening – he would deliver food to checkpoints where brave Ukrainian soldiers were stationed. He often came under fire but this did not deter him at all. However, after two weeks, he had to return the car to the taxi company. Even this did not stop him.
Without hesitation, he reached out to a HART partner agency – ‘My Home Foundation,’ a Ukrainian Christian organization he volunteers for. He requested a vehicle to continue his humanitarian efforts. Recognizing the urgency of the situation and Ihor’s steadfast commitment, the foundation promptly provided him with a volunteer van. This vehicle became his new mode of service, enabling him to navigate the treacherous landscapes and reach those in dire need of aid.
Ihor delivered humanitarian aid for people in the occupied Kherson regions
Ihor’s Fearless Humanitarian Spirit
I was continually awestruck by Ihor’s courage as he headed off into dangerous areas, and begged him not to do this. He simply wouldn’t listen, and would simply say, “Iryna, you know very well that I cannot stand idly by.” I also knew there was no chance that I could dissuade him – for Ihor would do what he believed was the right thing, fuelled by confidence that luck was on his side.
Which is why I was so afraid to lose him.
Undaunted, Ihor courageously travelled into active combat zones, risking his life to evacuate civilians in the middle of this conflict. He brought to safety dozens of people from the then-embattled towns of Irpin and Bucha.
Next, he embarked on three dangerous trips from Kyiv to the then-occupied city of Kherson and surrounding regions. He brought humanitarian aid into these occupied areas and on his return journeys evacuated many people to safer regions in Ukraine. Among those who Ihor helped to evacuate were families with children and people with disabilities.
Ihor evacuated seniors, families, children and people with disabilities to safe regions of Ukraine.
Ihor’s Ultimate Sacrifice and Enduring Legacy
War, however, is an indiscriminate force, blind to the virtues of good and evil, leaving devastation in its wake. And so it was with Ihor. During this time, Russian soldiers mercilessly targeted convoys of volunteers evacuating civilians. On March 31st, 2022, I lost touch with my dear friend. For a year, his fate remained shrouded in uncertainty.
That year was an excruciating ordeal for me. I clung to any glimmer of hope for news about him, yet at the same time I dreaded the possibility of learning that he was no longer among us. It was only after a year had passed that Ihor’s vehicle and remnants of his body were discovered along the road he had traveled.
Grappling with this reality brings me indescribable pain, extremely difficult to accept and get used to. Nevertheless, I find solace in the knowledge that, like Ihor, it is possible to persevere until the very end, no matter the adversity.
Ihor’s legacy will endure as a testament to unparalleled courage, and a heart overflowing with compassion and kindness. Though not a regular churchgoer, his words resonated with profound conviction: “I believe in God deep in my heart. I know He is there.”
Iryna Larikova
