Cork-based plumber returns home to fight for Ukraine 

Relatives in Ukraine have already seen the worst of the war, 'they see how people die, and they hear rockets'

Pavlo Serdiuk, who lives in Cork, and Andrej Mitigan, who lives in Limerick. Pictures: RTÉ/ David Raleigh

As thousands of people flee the Russian invasion, many Ukrainian nationals living in Ireland are returning home to defend their country. 

Among those ready to go home and fight are a Cork-based plumber and a Limerick-based civil engineer.

Pavlo Serdiuk, an apprentice plumber working with Trevor Hill Plumbing, said he would return to Ukraine “to do his duty”.

"I'm not going to lie, I am scared. The closer you get the more scared you are, but it is what it is," he said.

Mr Serdiuk was among a group of Ukrainian men interviewed by RTÉ, as they packed and readied themselves to depart Ireland and return to their country. 

The group flew to Kraków in Poland on Sunday night. Their plan was to then drive across the border into Ukraine and join the civilian resistance to the invading Russian army.

The men were travelling with donations of essential supplies like batteries, sleeping bags, helmets, flak jackets and money, all donated from Irish people and the Ukrainian community in Ireland.

Speaking from Kyiv over the weekend, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on foreign volunteers to come and fight in Ukraine’s defence.

Poland’s Border Guard said some 22,000 people have crossed into Ukraine since Thursday when Russia invaded the country. More are arriving every hour.

'If the situation worsens I’m going to go back to Ukraine to protect them'

Andrej Mitigan, a civil engineer who lives in Limerick with his wife and young daughter, said he was also prepared to go back to Ukraine and fight. 

Mr Mitigan, 35, said his parents and brother informed him they have already taken up arms, and are sleeping in basements to try to avoid Russian missile strikes.

Andrej, his wife, Alisa, and their two-year-old daughter, Mia, settled in Limerick in 2020, when he began working for a local construction company.

"I’m from Kyiv, my family are there, my father, mother, brother, and all of them are pushed to take the weapons to protect themselves, their lives," he said. 

"We don't want a war, Ukrainians love peace and democracy but the Russians are trying to destroy our country; every day they are attacking us, killing us.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on Ukrainians abroad to return home and join the fight against Russian forces. Picture: Johanna Geron/ Pool Photo via AP, File

Becoming emotional, Mr Mitigan said: “My daughter is two years old, and yesterday she said to me, ‘Father, let’s draw a rocket’, and I cried.” 

Mr Mitigan said his family in Ukraine have already seen the worst of the war, “they see how people die, and they hear rockets”.

I want to protect them, and if the situation worsens I’m going to go back to Ukraine to protect them. I’m a civil engineer, I’m not a soldier, but I will go back and fight.

“I support our president because Russia’s rockets are not only killing our soldiers, they are hitting our houses, and even our kindergartens have been attacked; they are killing civilians not only soldiers.” 

Mr Mitigan said economic sanctions imposed on Russia are “not enough”, but he believes Ukraine can defend itself without the need for allied troops in the country — but only as long as Western powers continue to supply Ukraine with military support.

His message to those who can support Ukraine’s defence against Russia is a simple one: “Help us with weapons.” 

Ms Mitigan's parents live close to the shellshocked capital city Kyiv and are fully supportive the orders of Ukraine president Mr Zelenskyy.

“Of course, I am worried for them, I don't know if I will see them in the future, I don't know if I will see them alive again, they don't know what will happen,” said Ms Mitigan.

“I cry every day, I ring them and ask them are they okay, all our thoughts are about Ukraine now.”