“I didn’t keep him”: banker Onistrat commented on the loss of his son

On the anniversary of his son’s death, banker and volunteer Andriy Onistrat shared a touching post in which he expressed his grief. His son died two years ago — on June 1, 2023 — at the “Mishka” position near Pavlovka.

“Today is a difficult day. Two years without my little sparrow. At this time, he passed away,” Onistrat noted.

In his message, he said that the commander of the brigade to which his son belonged sent him a short message with an apology: “Sorry for not saving him.” But the father is convinced that the responsibility lies with him.

“It’s my fault. If I had let him go to the “Kraken,” perhaps fate would have been different. This is the only thing I regret,” he wrote.

Onistrat also shared his emotions after a recent visit to the cemetery, where he felt the vividness of the memory of his son. Ostap died while trying to cross to the right bank of the Dnieper River with his comrades to stop the advance of Russian troops near the Zaporizhzhia NPP.

“The memory of him will always live in me. Fatherhood is not only pain but also happiness,” he noted.

He also recalled conversations with his son, which have now become essential lessons for him. His son explained which officers were respected and that after the war, life without a gun would be impossible.

“Every conversation is like the Bible. I can quote them endlessly,” Onistrat emphasized.

His message reflected the depth of emotions that accompany the loss of a loved one and resonated with many.