We Will All Meet at the Front: Stories of Defenders for Whom War Became a Way of Life

Ahead of the Day of Defenders of Ukraine, poignant testimonies are being published about individuals for whom combat has become a harsh daily reality. According to official data, the Ukrainian Defense Forces number about one million people, while nearly two million citizens have obtained veteran status. Each of them has traveled a unique path from civilian life to the frontline trenches, where the price of a mistake is measured in human lives.

The Path to Special Forces: From Doubts to Contract

One such story is shared by a 31-year-old instructor of the HUR MOU special unit «Artan» with the call sign «Tuman» (Fog). The former assault trooper recounts that his decision to go to the front matured in late 2023 amid an internal crisis and a sense of guilt toward compatriots who were already fighting. Despite doubts and the concerns of loved ones, he passed a rigorous selection process, which included grueling physical training where many candidates lost consciousness. After successfully completing training and receiving modern equipment, the fighter signed a contract and was deployed to perform combat missions in the Zaporizhzhia direction.

The Harsh Realities of War and Severe Injury

Initial deployments to positions were accompanied by colossal stress and the inexperience of the personnel. However, a true turning point occurred during a heavy assault in the spring of 2025 in the Zaporizhzhia region, when a small group of Ukrainian servicemen faced superior enemy forces. In that battle, «Tuman» sustained a severe injury to his right leg and was forced to spend a day in a trench next to a fallen brother-in-arms. Thanks to the courage of evacuation groups and drivers who accomplished the impossible while pursued by enemy drones, the fighter was successfully evacuated to the rear.

Rehabilitation and Return to Service

Following evacuation, the serviceman underwent a complex course of treatment in Zaporizhzhia and Lviv medical facilities, including the SuperHumans center. He underwent a leg amputation, re-amputation for prosthetics preparation, as well as surgeries on his face and auditory organs due to multiple shrapnel wounds. Despite severe physical and psychological trauma, the fighter found the strength to return to service, continuing to contribute to the defense of the country.