The story of a NSU cadet who fought for his life in semi-encirclement and was wounded

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He began his military career in 2019 with conscript service in a mortar battery in Kharkiv region. After 4 months, he signed a contract for 3 years.

Photo: National Guard of Ukraine

Then he periodically traveled to the area of ​​Operation of the United Forces and was on duty at checkpoints. With the beginning of the full-scale invasion, he was in Stanytsia Luhanska. He says that on February 22-23, 2022, Russian drones were already flying over him and his brothers.

On the night of February 23, the occupiers’ artillery worked, and on the 24th, everyone woke up to a general alarm. The guys from the nearby checkpoint were surrounded for a week, and then they were captured.

The unit was ordered to turn back. It turned out that he was semi-surrounded. Therefore, the unit went to Severodonetsk. This period was the most terrible.

“Later – Rubizhne. We occupied the defenses there. We left, practiced specific tasks and returned to our positions again. One day, the task was to practice landing. A gazelle was driving ahead, we were 20 meters behind it. Here a projectile flies into it and “ – says Serhiy.

Photo: National Guard of Ukraine

Then he went through battles in Varvarivka, Kreminnaya. He was wounded in Zolote, Luhansk region. There he served as an infantryman and had to conduct automatic fire at the enemy 100 m from the positions.

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When he took his shift, the enemy tank began firing. When Serhiy ran for cover, the radio communication had already been interrupted. There was no way to ask comrades to return fire.

The soldier rushed to the other comrades in the trench, but it was already too late.

“When I went out to them, I saw that one fighter who had the call sign “Simka” was already lying down. I ran up to him, bent over, wanted to help him stand up, but nothing could be done. It was at this moment that I was wounded, a fragment from a tank ammunition wounded my leg. I shouted to my fellow comrade to run, and I started to get to the shelter little by little. They gave me first aid there, and when the medics were able to arrive, they sent me to the hospital.” – recalls the national guard.

After rehabilitation, Serhii took part in the battles near Kharkiv in a mortar battery. Heavy battles were fought there, but the Ukrainian military was successful.

I will say even more, at that time we were the first to reach the border with Russia, which is not far from Kozacha Lopan, and were able to free certain positions. Work was established with our headquarters, which read Russian radio stations, telephones, and telegrams. When we were working, we were warned about possible shelling. As soon as we went down to the basement, it immediately flew at us – says Serhii.

In November 2022, he and the brig went to Toretsk, later to Bakhmut. There, the guardsmen helped our infantry to hold their positions with mortar fire.

The military man says that he received support from his girlfriend, parents, grandmother and grandfather. Parents were in occupation. After the release, Kupyansk went to pick them up.

“But the most pleasant thing in all this horror for me is when you enter a liberated city or village and realize that they are waiting for you here. People are waving, children are running. It is indescribable.” – says the defender.

In the future, Serhii plans to stay in the military, so he entered the academy to improve his qualifications.

“I am very proud of people who voluntarily go to defend Ukraine. I have friends who were abroad and returned to defend the country. I also constantly communicate with my brothers. Unfortunately, many of my comrades have already died. But, they all fought for our the earth, the future of our children. And we must remember them.” – concludes the national guard.

Earlier, we told the story of a National Guardsman who directly participated in the counteroffensive in the Kharkiv Region.