Ivan Barba is a man whose journey cannot be measured in kilometers.
It is a journey of choice, responsibility, and inner strength – a path that reveals the true beauty of the human soul. When Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ivan did not hesitate for a single moment. He volunteered to defend his land – not because he was ordered to, but because he understood what stood behind him: his family, his children, his home, and the future of his country.
«I had to go through war. To witness things I would wish on no one. And I will say honestly: I do not consider myself a hero. I am an ordinary person who did what had to be done. I am a father of three who voluntarily went to the front in February 2022… because I did not want the war to knock on the door of my own home.»
Ivan speaks about war openly. For him, it is not a heroic myth. It is a harsh reality where fear becomes a constant companion and every day is a test of endurance. Yet the greatest fear for him was never his own death:
«War is dirt, blood, cold, and an endless choice: to stand or to fall. And I stood. Because I knew if not me, then who would protect my children and our land? We lost friends. We held our brothers-in-arms in our arms during their final moments. And even when fear hung in the air, when the heart tightened at the thought that this might be the end… we still moved forward. We did not fight for medals. We fought for the future of our children. For Ukraine, the Ukraine they deserve to see. Twice, I looked death straight in the eyes. And you know… my greatest fear was not for myself. My greatest fear was that my children might grow up without a father – not as free people, but as slaves.»
Yet Ivan’s strength came not only from his love for his children and his sense of duty. In the darkest moments, when pain became unbearable, and fear closed in from all sides, he was held up by the light waiting for him in the rear — his beloved wife. She waited, believed, held the home and the children together, living every day in anxiety and uncertainty. Her love, patience, and inner strength became the invisible armor that helped Ivan endure:
«In the darkest moments, when I lay wounded, when I thought I would never return, one person kept me going — my wife. She endured everything: fear, uncertainty, sleepless nights, my injuries, and a pain that cannot be put into words. She was my support, my rear, my faith. Without her, I would not have survived.»
Life after the front line is seen through different eyes. Every veteran walks a difficult path of adaptation, but alongside the challenges comes a clear understanding of what truly matters in life.
Before the war, Ivan worked as a land management specialist at the private enterprise Karo. After returning, he decided to pursue his professional calling as an agronomist. At that time, a vacancy opened at the Vradiivska branch, and Ivan gladly joined the team:
«When I returned from the war, I was no longer the same person. I completely changed my life. I changed my job, and today I work for a company that builds Ukraine’s future through daily work. And I am proud to work here. Today, I am also a student at Tavria State Agrotechnological University, because I believe that knowledge is a powerful tool. A weapon we all need to rebuild the country for which so many gave their lives. I study to be stronger in peaceful life, wiser in my choices, and more useful to the state I once defended.»
Ivan’s experience has taught him that the fight for the future does not end on the battlefield. It continues in civilian life — in caring for loved ones and society, in remembering those who fell in the fight for a free Ukraine. And from this deep sense of responsibility, he addresses everyone:
«Do not forget the price of freedom. Do not turn away from those who returned from war with invisible wounds. And remember those who will never return. We live because someone gave their life for this.»
