Dmytro Pletenchuk, spokesman for the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, recalled the story of how, during the "Ukraine without Kuchma" protests, he refused to beat the elderly and women. In the event of such a situation, he planned to demonstratively switch to the other side.
He wrote about this on his Facebook page.
Pletenchuk added a photo with patches, noting:
"My patches. They were sewn on then. In particular, on the overcoat. On the street at -20 we were in overcoats (which several conscripts wore before me) and footmuffs (they were punished for socks). Late 90s, early 2000s."
Then he was convinced that he should "join the army."
"I remember a conversation with the "educator", how we were warned that during the "Ukraine without Kuchma" actions, we would have to beat the elderly and women. And how I told him that I was the one who gave the Oath to them, not to Kuchma. They did not punish or scare me. Although "of course I received condemning looks and moans", I was already a senior conscript, - recalls the spokesman for the Ukrainian Navy. - It is true that they talked about "Molotov cocktails and losses". Then I decided for myself that if they took me to Kyiv, as they warned, I would demonstratively go over to the other side."
He explains that his parents and school teachers raised him this way: "I thank them for that. I have always respected those who honestly serve according to their convictions."
Read also how Dmytro Pletenchuk, as a professional spokesman, was shocked by a Ukrainian who was played by a journalist.
