The story of National Guardsman Jackson, who came to serve from Estonia and liberated Kherson

In November 2022, the Ukrainian military liberated Kherson and part of the region from the Russian invaders.

One of those who fought in the Kherson direction was a National Guard fighter with the call sign Jackson.

Almost a year ago, the boy specially came from Estonia to protect Ukraine from the invaders.

The story of former wage earner and now soldier Jackson was told in the National Guard.

“I woke up to calls from my friends. When I turned on the news, I couldn’t believe that this was actually happening in my home country, but very quickly I pulled myself together and started to act.” – says Jackson about February 24.

The boy recalls: since the beginning of the war, he was constantly watching the news and decided to join the army without hesitation.

“I came to the factory where I worked and said that I would go to Ukraine to stand up for the defense of my native land. I immediately had quite a few like-minded people – these are Ukrainian guys who worked at the factory with me. Then our people from other factories united”– says Jackson.

Thanks to volunteers and Estonian government organizations, buses were found for the boys that transported the volunteers free of charge.

The first part of the future defenders traveled in 4 large buses. The next day, the same company was going to Ukraine to join the army.

“I didn’t even think that so many guys would go. We traveled for more than two days, but it didn’t tire us. Because each of us knew that he was going to defend his native country, his home and loved ones.” Jackson recalls.

The military man heard the first explosions in Odesa, and when he arrived in Mykolaiv, he realized that they did not stop there.

When the man arrived in his hometown, he immediately went to the military commissariat. In 2012, Jackson had already served in the ranks of the National Guard – so the boy was called up to the Kherson military unit of NSU.

The national guard returned from working in Estonia to defend Ukraine. He was one of the fighters who fought in the Kherson direction

Jackson took part in the de-occupation of part of the Kherson region. He recalls how, together with his brothers, he was able to save the boys who ran into mines in the territory mined by enemy troops.

The soldier also shares his memories of how the Kherson people met the Ukrainian military. According to Jackson, the townspeople asked the defenders to sign wherever they could.

“During the deoccupation of one of the settlements in the Kherson region, a woman came up, took my hands and asked: “Just don’t leave us!” And an elderly man, in front of whom the occupiers killed the family of his neighbors, saw the guardsmen, did not take his eyes off us…

Looking at these people, I finally made sure that I am where I should be!”, – adds the national guard.

After the victory, Jackson wants to swim in the Black Sea. He plans to go to the liberated Crimea with his brothers.

Read also: Hug a dead friend, go to Crimea. What dreams do Ukrainian defenders have going into 2023?