When everyone is running for cover, we run to a combat position: an officer’s confession

Ksenia Marko, an officer of the Ukrainian Air Force and operator of the S-300 air defense missile system, was the heroine of the last episode of the in-house developed project Call Sign Nadiia with TV presenter Nadiya Matveeva on STB. The girl told us how she defends the sky over Ukraine, why she decided to defend the country, and why she wants to go to Bakhmut.

Call sign “Nadezhda”

Ksenia’s parents were against their daughter’s military career. The defender admitted her decision to join the Ukrainian army:

“This desire arose in 2014, after the events on the Maidan. At that time, I was finishing the 11th grade and preparing for the external independent testing. I really wanted to enter the military department, but, of course, my parents tried hard to convince me that I didn’t need to do this.”

But her perseverance and belief in herself helped her become an officer in the Ukrainian Air Force at the age of 21.

“When everyone is running for cover, we run to a combat position, take our places and do our job,” Ksenia said, ” In my oath, the last line ends with the words: “never betray the Ukrainian people”.

The safety and tranquility of cities in times of air danger depends on the actions of this girl and similarly brave defenders.

“I am an operator of the S-300 air defense missile system. There is a certain control point for these missiles. There are six people sitting there. Each of us does our job. My goal is to manually aim our missile at the enemy. The missile is moving. The locator displays it on the screen. We set the course and the target,” Ksenia said.

Call sign “Nadezhda”

“I had a grudge against Western countries. Because of the lack of equipment. – The girl admitted. – We have people, we will work. There was strong anger not only at Russia. At some point I realized that Western countries were pulling. And we pay for it with human lives.”

“Every day we shoot down something is special. Even the smell of gunpowder and fuel, which means that a missile has just taken off. I remember the first time we went to look for a downed Russian cruise missile. I wanted to take at least a small piece of it with me,” the defender said.

But now Ksenia is thinking about becoming an anti-tank platoon commander in Bakhmut.

“I know that everything will depend on me 100%. I will be able to control the whole situation and bring the victory closer,” she explained.

Watch Call Sign Nadiia every Sunday at 22:00 on STB.

Photo: press service