Liudmyla Meiuk, also known as “Malva”, went from a volunteer to an experienced fighter and spoke on the international stage about Ukraine’s ongoing struggle for survival.
Liudmyla’s family is a reflection of the modern history of Ukraine. Both of her grandparents fought in the Red Army during the Second World War. One of her grandfathers was killed when demining Budapest. Her father, who was also a military officer, was one of many liquidators involved in the 1986 accident at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant. He died from radiation exposure. Stanislav, her younger son and a paramedic volunteer in the Aidar Assault Battalion was killed in a combat mission during the summer of 2014. He had served for only two weeks.
“My son’s four herniated disks didn’t stop him from playing sports.” All the men in my household went to the military recruitment office when the war broke out. I tried to convince my son to stay home and do volunteer service, but he said: “Mom, gather all my medals, and throw them away because one day, my children will wonder why you, Dad, so strong, didn’t defend the country ….’. I tried to stop him, but I couldn’t. He said, “I’m sorry Mom, I love family, but I’m more attached to my homeland …'”,” Meniuk said.
Meniuk, driven by the desire to continue her child’s mission, enlisted with the Ukrainian Armed Forces and joined her son’s battalion. She was 50 years old and wanted to be a sniper above all else… but that didn’t happen.
“Why did I take this decision?” It began with a strong desire for revenge. Over time, the feeling evolved into something else: the desire to defeat my enemy so that my grandchildren could live peacefully. I always felt like I was saving someone’s life. “I want more of our girls and boys to survive,” she said during an interview with Radio Liberty.
Meniuk began her career as the manager of a military warehouse that houses automobiles and armored vehicles. She was then assigned to a direct assault company. Liudmyla Menik became the first woman to lead an armored unit in the Ukrainian Army. “I realized that I had to do what Stanislav did not have time to accomplish,” she says.
Meniuk comes from the town Haisyn, Vinnytsia Oblast. She ran a small family business and looked after her family before the war. Stanislav, her son, worked as a nurse at a private clinic located in Moscow. The Russian occupation of Crimea in 2014 and the invasion of Donbas, in eastern Ukraine, changed the plans and future of the family. Stanislav returned and took part in the Revolution of Dignity.
Meniuk and sons began by delivering supplies, such as night-vision devices and socks, to volunteers fighting in eastern Ukraine. Stanislav named the organization “Malva”, a human rights organization of soldiers’ mothers. Liudmyla adopted the name as her calling sign.
“All I knew was that there was a flower called Malva, so I named it that. Later, someone told about the tradition that women who lost their husbands or sons in war would plant mallows around their homes.”
Meniuk recalls her younger son as “cheerful and brave, a champ athlete who did arm-wrestling, so he was given the call sign “Arm.” Stanislav’s background in medicine led him to serve in the Aidar Battalion, as part of sappers unit.
The Ukrainian military faced serious challenges in the Donbas from 2014 to 2022. Soldiers fought intense battles while struggling with shortages of vital equipment. The Ukrainian Armed Forces were plagued by a lack of weapons, medical supplies and basic protective equipment. These deficiencies, combined with the ongoing casualties, made it difficult for Ukrainian troops to be on the frontlines.
Stanislav, together with 11 other Aidar fighters fell in battle near Lutuhyne in Luhansk Oblast on 27 July 2014. Meniuk’s philosophical reflection on this loss is: “Everyone lives their time in this war.” Your day can come at any time… but to give your life in order to free your Homeland is a great honor,” she said in a video.
Meniuk made her decision to enlist immediately after the death of her son. She joined the 24th Aidar Separate Assault Battalion in January 2016. Her role evolved from clerk, to chief sergeant for the assault company, and finally to head of a armored service.
“IFVs and tanks, all the armor available – that was my immediate family,” she recalls her unique position. She was the first woman in Ukraine to lead the armored services.
She served until 2020, despite serious health issues including partial vision and hearing loss, and severe injuries. She was discharged from the military and decided to concentrate on other things – rehabilitation of combat veterans. She acquired a third career as a practical psychologist, on top of her two previous higher degrees.
Meniuk was encouraged by her fellow veterans to take up sports. She took part in the Invictus games. She won two gold medals and a silver in powerlifting.
Liudmyla Meniuk, despite being severely injured, joined the ranks of volunteer fighters when Russia launched its full-scale invasion on February 20, 2022. She reconnected with former comrades in the Aidar Battalion, who were fighting at the frontlines.
“As they say there are no former Aidar Members.” In this big conflict, we met in Bakhmut while our unit and Aidar fought side by side.
Meniuk’s team was involved in a number of critical operations, such as the defense of Bakhmut and Sievierodonetsk. She stresses the resilience of her unit, saying, “There was no panic in my team.” We went through Sievierodonetsk, and the last evacuation was ours. We were replaced in Bakhmut during rotation at the beginning of March. We didn’t abandon a single position …”
Meniuk was responsible for logistics as part of the tactical group of her company. She was responsible for the delivery of supplies such as ammunition, weapons and uniforms to various locations, including Kostiantynivka and Chasiv Yar.
Meniuk acknowledges that danger is always present. She recounts a mission to deliver ammunition, which was particularly difficult when she received orders from her superiors to stop the operation due to heavy enemy fire along all routes. She was faced with a difficult choice.
“I understood: Yes, it’s frightening, yes, I might die. I’m not suicidal. I have plans for my future and I want them to be fulfilled. “I also understood that my guys would die if I didn’t go because they needed ammunition to destroy the enemies,” she says. She and her driver completed the mission successfully.
The veteran attributes the effectiveness of her unit to thorough preparation and careful screening based on moral and psychological qualities. She stresses the importance of remaining calm in the face fear, saying, “It is normal, but it’s still your duty.” The most important thing is to not panic.
Meniuk praises her fellow Ukrainians’ adaptability in the face war. She says, “We Ukrainians are incredibly adaptable and flexible, even at the DNA level.” She notes that ordinary civilians of all professions have transformed quickly into effective military personnel.
It’s also a sense of humor, which is inexplicable, that allows Ukrainians overcome the realities of war. Meniuk’s innermost desire was realized when she learned that her comrade was a plastic surgery.
“I was always bothered by the bags under my eyes. I was born with them. What’s the issue? A comrade informs me, “I’m a cosmetic surgeon!” I have my own clinic here in Kyiv. If we are still alive and can get out of Siver we will solve this problem,’ he said with a smile.”
Meniuk achieved her lifelong goal of undergoing blepharoplasty, which involves removing excess skin on the eyelids. She returned to work just hours later. She continued to do her job despite the men’s jokes. She told the men, “Why wait to fulfill your dreams?” and encouraged them as quickly as they could.
Meniuk served with her husband Yurii, who is a combat veteran, since 2004. “My husband is a pillar and my protection,” she says. She emphasizes their shared mindset and mutual assistance.
Meniuk has undergone significant changes as a result of the war. “I have changed, I’ve become more restrained and don’t pay much attention to trivial things, probably forgiven people more,” she reflects. She also notes that her younger colleagues have influenced her to change her perspective on her age and personal growth.
War accelerates the aging process and the growth of individuals. In war, people mature faster… not just externally with wrinkles or gray hair, but also wisdom. She says that the intensity of war changes interpersonal dynamics and heightens emotions. “In war, people treat each other more tenderly.”
Meniuk, who returned to civilian life after her military service, opened a private psychology office in Haisyn. She offers free consultations and assistance to military personnel, as well as to families of fallen or missing soldiers and war veterans.
In her final reflection Liudmyla Meniuk shares with us her view on veterans, whom she sees often in her office. “A veteran is someone who has life wisdom and invaluable experience in all directions.” This is a person who is disciplined, and a person who keeps their word.
Meniuk, along with her fellow soldiers, has been educating the world on the ongoing war in Ukraine. She has detailed how cities are being destroyed and lives lost due to inadequate weaponry. She spoke this year in Davos and Munich, Washington DC and Austin, Texas. In September 2024 she took part in the Yalta European Strategy Forum held in Kyiv. She spoke out strongly about the lack of Western assistance for Ukraine and the need to win this conflict.
She met with local veterans while in the United States. She met with local war veterans while in the United States.
“We live in a different reality. Meniuk concluded in an interview with Ukrainska Pravda that “our war exists in another dimensions”.
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