«By creatingan International Peacekeeping Battalion named after Dzhohar Dudaev together with other Chechens, Amina Okueva became a hero of Russian-Ukrainian war and symbol of international resistance to Russian imperialism. In interview to the Inforator.lg.ua she told why she went to fight for Ukrainian independence, what’s common between Chechen and Ukrainian fighters and what we have to do to defeat Russia in this confrontation.»

What did you do before the war?

I have been living in Ukraine for 12 years. Before that I lived in North Caucasus and Russia. I graduated from Odessa National Medical University – general surgery department. Before the Maydan I was working in a hospital in Odessa. During Maydan I was working as a doctor in medical tent. Together with “Afgan war veterans” I was on Grushevskogo …

Why did you decide to go fighting?

When the war started I didn’t even have doubts to participate in it or not. No one tried to convince me not to go to the front. Even my husband, who had been imprisoned and tried to dissuade me to go to Maydan, just wished me good luck, when I told him that I was going to the battlefield. For us war against Russia – is a duty. This is a duty to all our relatives and friends, who died in this unequal battle. For us – it is a point of honor. For everyone, who can hold arms and help in this fair fight for freedom.

You’ve witnessed the second Chechen war. Can you compare the ATO with that war?

I don’t want to play havoc but today situation in Ukraine is like 93-94th years in Chechnya. I mean the period before the first war between Chechnya and Russia. After self-determination of the Chechen Republic Ichkeriya Russia started to shake the situation and provide local bandits with arms and money, send their soldiers as instructors … Then, when the situation was unstable, they brought in troops… I cannot affirm that Russia will use the same scenario because correlation of forces and geopolitical situation in Ukraine is totally different, but we cannot exclude a thing and have to be ready for everything, including a full-scale war. As for behavior of Russian soldiers and their minions – the same as we had – unscrupulousness, impudence, violence and disregard towards all international conventions and human moral norms. It was seen in violent, perverted tortures against captives. I suppose that local residents of occupied territories have faced this Russian world already. Of course Russian occupants have tied hands, because they cannot put locals against them. And despite “blindness” and passiveness of international observers, they play the role too.

You told about problems, which you’ve faced in Russia wearing hijab. Have you faced the same attitude in Ukraine?

No, I’ve never faced such problems in Ukraine. Even during times of pro-Russian authorities in Ukraine there was no religious or national discrimination on local levels. I graduated from medical School and worked as a doctor in a hospital, following Islam rules concerning clothes and implementing all needed religious rituals.

Have you faced misunderstanding from the side of men-fighters at war?

There is no misunderstanding. Fighters are very glad to see a female fighter. The only type of “discrimination” – is a desire to protect and not let to take part in dangerous of difficult actions. But when you show your willingness to serve on equal grounds with men – they start to respect you. There are also no problems with following Islam in Ukrainian army: there is no lack of food and I can eat halal food; dress code is also free; I have no difficulties to pray when it is necessary. The only thing is that it is a bit difficult to keep the fast because of hard long journeys and combat challenges.

Tell about Dzhohar Dudaev battalion. You’ve announced creation of other battalions, have you already started to organize them?

Idea to establish a volunteer battalion to help Ukraine in conditions of Russian aggression appeared almost immediately after annexation of Crimea. It was initiated by our commander – General of Armed Forces of Chechen Republic Ichkeriya Isa Munaev, who died near Debaltsevo and was awarder with a title National Hero of Ukraine (unofficial award given by volunteers). Unfortunately his feat wasn’t noted by Ukrainian authorities. Almost immediately after that, representatives of organization “Free Caucasus”, which was headed by Isa Munaev, offered me to announce idea of such battalion operation on the territory of Ukraine. I promoted this idea via all channels I had. Ukrainian authorities paid attention and allowed Isa Munaev and his fighters to come to Ukraine. Thus, the battalion started to work in Ukraine on July-August 2014. We worked with many detachments of the AFU and showed ourselves from the good side. We didn’t manage to legalize the battalion while Isa was alive, though we tried a lot.

I think that the reason was an absence of working mechanism of legalization. After adoption of a bill on service of foreigners in Ukrainian army we got a hope to help Ukraine officially to resist Russian aggression. At the moment we try to register our fighters in the AFU of Ukraine as a separate unit of the volunteer battalion “Zolotye vorota” (“Golden gates”). Death of Isa Munaev became a huge loss for us. But we continued work, which was started by our commander and we will stay here, until Ukraine needs us. There are fighters of different religions in the battalion and we appreciate everyone, who wants to fight for justice. We don’t announce a number of our fighters but I can say that we have enough fighters to implement a wide range of military tasks.

Did you participate in elections and are you going to work in the field of politics?

I’m not going to work in the field of politics. I don’t know what I will do if our help in the East of Ukraine will be not needed. I’m a doctor and I suppose that I will find what to do.

If a fight for national independence will start over in Chechnya will you take part in it?

There is a war in North Caucasus. But now there are almost no resources and I don’t see opportunity for rebels to build up. But of course we still hope that our land will get rid of Russian occupation.

Give advice to Ukrainians, what they should do to defeat Russia? Maybe we do something wrong?

Dear Ukrainians, please find powers to unite! Believe our Chechen experience: Kremlin is trying to cause a quarrel among us and get us weaker and then they will be able to make another step. Then we will need more time to unite again. We will lose time. That’s their mean tactics and we have to realize it and look for a compromise with each other. We have a saying: united cats defeated disunited wolves. That’s the main idea. We’ve passed through the same story and now our people are in bad conditions. I understand that it is hard to learn from other people’s mistakes, but in this case the stake is too high. Russian occupants look for the weakest spot in each person and attack. I’m sure that Putler waits us to fight with each other and become weaker … so, I wish everyone patience, harmony and wisdom.

Denis Matsola for theInformator.lg.ua