Regional leader ready to battle Russians with Australian missiles

Australian missiles have been delivered into the waiting arms of determined Ukrainians, who plan to use them against the invading Russians.

With a pistol in one hand and a bible in the other, Mykola Melnychuk says he is ready.

But just in case he is not, the charismatic mayor of Starokostiantyniv says then the recently delivered Australian Defence Force missiles are there to help.

The 69-year-old, who is also the commander of the region’s Territorial Defence Force, has lived in the town all his life and governed for half of it.

And he said this was not how he was expecting to rule, with an old police issue six shooter in a shoulder holster and an imposing posse of armed fighters stationed permanently outside his office door.

But this week his town has become the focus of advancing Russian forces, firstly with missile strikes from overhead and now he fears troops just days away from being on his streets.

Starokostiantyniv mayor and commander of the region’s Territorial Defence Forces Mykola Melnychuk says he is ready for Russian invasion. Picture: Charles Miranda

Starokostiantyniv is a key base for Ukraine’s resistance to Russia’s invasion, home to the 7th Tactical Air Brigade and the Sukhoi SU-24M fighters as well as a rally point for a number of troops.

Earlier this week the base was the target of a sustained bombardment with numerous scorch marks visible over the underground aircraft hangars at the sprawling military air base.

The missiles are believed to have been fired from a Russian warship 500km away in the Black Sea but also a battery in Transnistria, a breakaway Russian territory of Moldova and Belarus that this week is expected to formally join Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“Of course we are worried, our enemy bring to us attack and new weapons but our armies are strong in spirit, we have new arms too and we go to the attack and we will win this war,” he said defiantly as he draws his pistol.

“Australia help us with missiles and we are very happy they have come to Ukraine but from Australia and our friends from the EU and NATO we need more, more armaments and vests for our armies to fight this enemy.

“Our enemies come closer around our military base and community and so now we will face them on the streets but I say thankyou Australia for your help to fight Putin who is worse than Hitler.”

A Royal Australian Air Force C-17A Globemaster III aircraft delivers defensive military assistance into Europe in support of the Ukrainian Government. Digitally altered for operational security reasons.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison this week confirmed a delivery of Australian armaments including, weapons and medical goods had arrived in Ukraine.

There are 55,000 residents in his district and you get a sense Melnychuk feels responsible for them all.

He said many in town were helping either create checkpoint road blocks to slow the Russian advance or making camouflage nets for the armed forces.

Women in Starokostiantyniv spend their days tearing up old rags to make camouflage nets for bunkers, air missile defence systems and checkpoints as they prepare for Russian invaders. Picture: Charles Miranda,

Day and night the fighters from the base make sorties including on a Russian column of tanks and artillery moving along capital Kyiv’s western flank.

“Am I prepared for this? I was a simple boy who lived all his life here, I was an agricultural farm driver and worked in a plant but life was my main teacher, I appreciate leadership and I will do what I can for my people and country,” he said.