Ivan Klymenko: A WWII Veteran Still Supporting Ukraine’s Army
Every month, Ivan Klymenko, a 101-year-old World War II veteran from the city of Novoukrainka in the Kirovohrad region, sends a portion of his pension to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Although his passport says he will turn 100 on July 26, he is actually 101. During the war, to avoid being deported to Germany, he shaved one year off his age and twice attempted to evade conscription in 1942.
Klymenko was finally drafted in March 1944 after Novoukrainka was liberated. He first served in a rifle regiment and later trained at a sniper school. His combat journey began in Hungary, and he learned of the war’s end in Austria, near Vienna. After returning home in 1950, he worked as a driver until retiring.
Supporting Soldiers and Remembering the Past
Since 2014, the veteran has been donating between 500 and 1,000 hryvnias each month to the military. He hands the money to Nataliia Nikolaienko, head of the local veterans’ organization in the Novoukrainka community. She explained: “The funds go to the army, to our volunteer group. The women there make stuffed cabbage rolls, sautéed dishes, borscht, and porridge—lots of things.”
Klymenko also shares memories of his wartime experiences. “When the train stopped in the morning, they opened the car. My friend Kovalenko and I got off—like we were going outside. We went to a planting area where there was rye, and we hid in it. Then we crawled toward the forest,” he recounted. He also recalled the fear he felt early in the war: “When they took us, not everyone even got a weapon. They said, ‘You’ll pick one up there—someone gets killed, you take his.’ Of course, it’s scary when they’re shooting at you. It was terrifying at first, but later it wasn’t.”
Klymenko comes from a family of long-lived people. His sister, a centenarian herself, turned 103 on April 26; another sister died just shy of 90, and his mother lived to 93. The veteran never smoked or drank alcohol and loved sports. His daily routine includes:
- Waking up at 7:00 AM
- Breakfast at 8:30 AM
- Lunch at 12:00 PM
- Dinner at 6:00 PM
- Going to bed at 9:00 PM
“I want the war to end quickly, so that Putin stops reaching for Ukraine. So that people—especially children—stop being killed. The little ones, what are they guilty of? I hope to learn that the war is over, and then I can…” Klymenko said, his voice trailing off.
Ivan Klymenko’s story is a powerful example of lifelong dedication and patriotism. His monthly contributions to Ukraine’s armed forces show how World War II veterans remain active in public life, supporting the country’s modern defenders. Amid Ukraine’s ongoing war, such acts help maintain a spirit of unity and solidarity among the population.