Ukraine

A Love Interrupted: The Heartbreaking Story of Ukrainian Hero Pilot Vladyslav Levchuk

Eternal Love and Loss: Anastasia Levchuk's Tribute to Her Fallen Hero

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Jun 23, 2024 - 04:24

A Love Interrupted: The Heartbreaking Story of Ukrainian Hero Pilot Vladyslav Levchuk

Yusuf Inan - Interview

A Love Interrupted: The Heartbreaking Story of Ukrainian Hero Pilot Vladyslav Levchuk

Thank you for accepting our interview request.

Yusuf Inan: Please tell us about yourself.

Anastasia Levchuk: My name is Anastasia Levchuk, I’m only 24 years old, and I am a widow...

Yusuf Inan: Can you tell us about your husband, Vladyslav Levchuk?

Anastasia Levchuk: My husband, Vladyslav Levchuk, was a pilot and navigator in the helicopter unit. When this dreadful war started, he had just graduated from university and had only served for a month. Despite this, he did not hesitate to go to war to defend his family and his country from the atrocities being committed on our land. In that short time, he was deployed seven times and carried out countless combat flights.

Yusuf Inan: When did your husband pass away?

Anastasia Levchuk: One of those flights became his last. On December 11th, when his heart stopped beating, the full-scale Russo-Ukrainian war ended for me, and a new one began - an internal war within myself, a daily struggle with the unwillingness to live without him, to move forward, or to do anything.

Yusuf Inan: How did you react to the news of your husband's death?

Anastasia Levchuk: I remember very little from that terrible day; everything was like a blur. A colleague of my husband called and uttered the most horrifying words of my life. In that moment, half of my soul died forever.

Yusuf Inan: What did you feel at that moment?

Anastasia Levchuk: I felt emptiness and an awful cold. It seemed like the world would stop the next second because it simply couldn't exist without my Vladyk.

Yusuf Inan: How did you meet your husband?

Anastasia Levchuk: My entire conscious life is tied to my husband. He was my first and only love. We were together for six years, having met when I had just started university. He was studying in another city. It was a love story you read about in books. Our meetings were not as frequent as we would have liked, but they were always eagerly anticipated and passionate.

Yusuf Inan: When did you get married?

Anastasia Levchuk: A few months before the war began, Vlad proposed to me. We were incredibly happy and planning our wedding, but then Russia attacked Ukraine on February 24th. He was on missions from the first day, and I was going crazy with worry for him. Sometimes I didn't even know which part of Ukraine he was in because we couldn't discuss it over the phone for his safety. Wedding plans were put on hold for a while, but eventually, we decided that the war had shown us all to live and love as if it were our last day. July 22nd was the happiest day of my life. It was a small celebration with our closest family and friends, but it was so warm and joyful. We were thrilled to finally become husband and wife.

Yusuf Inan: Have you created a petition for your husband to be awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine?

Anastasia Levchuk: I haven't created a petition yet. I communicate with other women in similar situations. Unfortunately, in Ukraine, it's a long and complicated process, and gathering the necessary number of signatures doesn't guarantee the title of Hero of Ukraine. But I will do everything possible to ensure that my husband is never forgotten. This is my mission in life – to preserve his memory.

Yusuf Inan: Where is your husband buried?

Anastasia Levchuk: We buried Vlad in his hometown, next to his father. His grave is 100 kilometers from my city, but I visit it often, whenever possible.

Yusuf Inan: What are your thoughts as the wife of a hero pilot?

Anastasia Levchuk: We were so happy and had so many dreams and plans. This war destroyed my life and took away the most precious thing. Nothing will ever be the same. I try to keep living, but it's mechanical, without joy or enthusiasm.

Yusuf Inan: What was his rank?

Anastasia Levchuk: Vlad was an officer. In his short career, he achieved the rank of Senior Lieutenant and was awarded the Order of Danylo Halytskyi. Recently, I received his posthumous promotion to Captain. The posthumous aspect frightens me the most. It wasn’t supposed to be this way...

Yusuf Inan: You recently got married. Were you expecting a child?

Anastasia Levchuk: This is another very painful topic for me. I wanted to have a part of him, but we simply didn’t have time... A few days before the tragedy, we talked on the phone about the future, about children. Vlad said, “Nastyulya, once winter is over, we’ll start planning for a baby.” Now winter has passed, and I am alone... I often imagine what kind of father he would have been, but that will never come to pass.

Yusuf Inan: What kind of person was Vladyslav Levchuk?

Anastasia Levchuk: Vlad was born on January 7, 1999. In Ukraine, this is one of the most significant religious holidays. For some reason, God brought him into the world on this special day, and he truly was a special person. He was just, honest, decent, brave, responsible, loving, caring, tender, yet with a very strong core... the most deserving man I have ever known.

PHOTO: Vladyslav Levchuk was only 23 years old.

Yusuf Inan: Do you keep in touch with your husband’s friends?

Anastasia Levchuk: Yes, we were surrounded by very sincere and caring people. They all support me immensely now, and I am endlessly grateful for that.

Yusuf Inan: Your husband was in the military. Did he anticipate that Russia would attack Ukraine?

Anastasia Levchuk: I know that they were prepared for such a development as military personnel, but until the last moment, we didn’t believe it would happen. We hoped it wouldn’t come to this.

I remember on February 24th, at 4 am, my husband called and said they were being called to work. I didn’t know that many Ukrainian cities were already under attack and was sure it was just a drill that would pass.

Yusuf Inan: Did he give you any instructions?

Anastasia Levchuk: It’s terrifying to imagine, but at 23, he talked to me about the possibility of his death and gave me instructions on how to live without him. Vlad was fully aware of his profession and the daily risks he took. One of these messages was the last bouquet my husband sent me, delivered by a courier on the day he died, while he was on his final flight...

I no longer had the chance to thank him. The thought that he might have sensed something and wanted to do something nice for “his Nastyulya” while he still could tears my heart apart.

The bouquet came with a note: “Smile more often - you are so beautiful.”

Now, I live only with thoughts of how he would want to see me. And I believe he sees me, I’m sure of it, he is always with me. Now he comes in my dreams and tells me that we still have an eternity ahead together.

And I believe it because there is no other way...