new Delhi: As Ukraine retaliates against Russian aggression, stories of civilians volunteering to defend their war-torn country provide a glimmer of light in these tragic times.
While much of the world can only pray for the safety of the people living in the Eastern European country, some have chosen to act against Moscow.
In one such case, a 98-year-old World War II veteran was once again ready to defend her country, according to Ukraine’s foreign ministry.
However, his offer to join the Ukrainian army was turned down by the authorities because of his age.
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry wrote on Twitter, “98 yo Olha Tverdokhalibova, a WWII veteran, faced war for the second time in her life. She was again ready to defend her homeland, but despite all the merits and experience, She was however, refused due to age. We are sure she will celebrate another victory in Kyiv soon!”
98 Yo Olha Tverdokhalibova, WWII veteran faced war for the second time in her life.
She was again ready to defend her homeland, but was refused due to age, despite all the merits and experience. We are sure, she will soon celebrate another victory in Kyiv!#Ukraine pic.twitter.com/jI39RyCCJK
— MFA of Ukraine (@mfa_ukraine) 18 March 2022
The post has garnered over 3,800 likes and multiple replies. Netizens appreciated Olha’s courage and wished her a long life.
Russia Ukraine conflict
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began nearly a month ago, an estimated 6.5 million people have been displaced within the country, while another 3.2 million have fled because of security concerns.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, who previously rejected a US offer to evacuate Kyiv to safety, has received worldwide praise for leading the struggle against a Russian attack. Many civilians have also volunteered to join the military to assist the country in its fight against heavyweight Russia.