The “crown” in Kiev – Austrian consul fights in the war in Ukraine

Shots are fired and the muffled thunder of grenades can be heard in the distance. The city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine has turned into one battlefield in recent weeks. A soldier carefully lifts his head from the maze of muddy trenches.

Businessman and military commander
He is not “just a soldier”. Before the Russian offensive war in Ukraine, Vsevolod Kozhemyako was the Austrian honorary consul in Kharkiv. It’s not easy to reach him. But the “Krone” managed to talk to the 50-year-old multimillionaire via Skype from Kiev. His voice sounds weak, but he expresses himself clearly and clearly. “Yes, I’m a businessman,” he begins. “And I am the commander of a military unit in Ukraine.”

On February 24, 2022 at 4 a.m., he was awakened by a comrade. On the day the war returned to Europe. “,It has begun.’ That’s all he said to me on the phone,” continues Kozhemyako. When the fateful news reached him, he was on a skiing holiday in Lech/Arlberg with his family.

Drawn straight to war through the mountains of Austria
“I immediately got into my car and drove to Ukraine. I never doubted for a moment.” His wife has since lived in Austria with their four children. Without thinking much, the top diplomat took off his suit at home and put on his military uniform. Together with other wealthy Ukrainians, the businessman has set up his own armed forces. He pays for all training, weapons and vehicles himself.

It’s probably just peanuts to him. Forbes magazine estimates Kozhemyako’s net worth at around $100 million. His force, which consists only of civilians, follows orders from the Ukrainian army. However, in battle at the front, he acts completely independently with his men.

The former part-time diplomat keeps coming back to Austria’s role in the conversation. He criticizes the inglorious role played by former foreign minister Karin Kneissl and that one now has to decide which side one is on. For Kozhemayko, one thing is very clear: the war will not be over until Ukraine wins.

From a beautiful town to a theater of war
Change of scenery to Irpin, a suburb northwest of Kiev. The once beautiful little town was occupied by the Russians in the early days of the war and fiercely fought over. The heavy destruction in the city is still clearly visible in the local inspection “Krone”. Many houses are in ruins, entire streets have been swept away.

The home of Igor S. (54) was also completely destroyed. Since then, like so many others, he has nothing left. In front of the ruins of his house, he tells us his story. When the Russians invaded the city, he helped evacuate the many women and children. His wife and 17-year-old son were also brought to safety in time.

Now he has to live here in the garage. Volunteers brought a heating generator. That should give him some warmth. All neighbours, friends and acquaintances are now helping together to restore what was ruthlessly destroyed. He proudly shows the progress of construction. The windows have already been repaired. “I am only doing this for my son. He is my only hope and my support,” says Igor firmly. But besides rebuilding his house, he is also devoting himself to another and probably more important project.

Take revenge on the Russians with repaired vehicles
The life artist is very skilled with his hands and tinkers with cars as a hobby. People from all over the area come by and donate discarded vehicles to him. He turns it into many a functional vehicle and sends it to the front with the army. It’s his own personal way of getting revenge on the Russians. “This car is being sent to our heroes in Bakhmut,” Igor smiles proudly and strokes the hood of the olive-green pickup.

Still, he naturally hopes that the war will soon be over. When the time comes and he has to fight, he will be ready.

Children: ‘We miss our father so much’
Bucha is not far from Irpin. Also a small town on the outskirts of Kiev. Russian soldiers slaughtered, tortured or executed civilians with targeted shots to the head. The fate of a young family also shows how close life and death are. In the middle of the war, little Orestes was born eleven months ago. He is the youngest of the family of five.

By that time, his father had long defended the country against the Russians. He could only be present at the delivery via video calling. Alla (37) then lived for six months with her three sons in a refugee camp in Lutsk, in the northwest of the country. But the longing for daddy was too great. But how does Alla explain the war to the children and the terrible things that happened?

“They know very well, and they should know. It’s war, and that’s no secret.” Saveliy (9) nods in agreement: “When we were gone, the Russians lived in our house. They stole all the cans from us, including the jam,” says the boy excitedly. Whenever there is an air raid siren, the two brothers run into the front room of the small house and hide.

When they returned to Bucha they discovered a bird’s nest in the tree in the garden. It was a sign of hope for her. “We miss our dad so much,” the kids say, and then they sneak a peek into the garden — to their own dove of peace.