Honoring My Cousin Eugene Olshanskiy, Who Gave His Life for Ukraine

Hello everyone,

I’m writing today with a heavy heart. My first cousin, Eugene Olshanskiy, recently died in combat defending Ukraine. He served faithfully in the Armed Forces for 11 years and was an honorable, dedicated soldier.

What troubles me deeply is that his commanders stated that his final combat engagement was his personal decision rather than an official order. Because of this, his family was informed that they are not eligible for the compensation usually given to families of fallen soldiers – only basic funeral expenses.

At the same time, I constantly see media reports condemning Russia for countless crimes – and rightly so – but it’s painful to witness that, to the best of my understanding, even Russian families often receive more substantial support for their fallen soldiers than Eugene’s family received. How is it possible that a dictator like Putin appears to take better care of his so-called “heroes,” while our real defenders – men and women fighting for freedom, not aggression – may be left with almost nothing?

I want to be clear: we are not asking for money or any financial support. We only ask that Eugene’s sacrifice and service be honored. Is this truly the way we honor those who gave everything for Ukraine? Is it acceptable that a man who served his country for over a decade is recognized only with basic funeral coverage?

Our heroes deserve dignity. Their families deserve respect. Eugene gave everything for Ukraine, and it feels profoundly unfair that his sacrifice might be overlooked in this way.

This is my brother's post on Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DmUsMQiS8/

Thank you for letting me share this!

Слава героям! Слава Україні!