Heroes Of Ukraine. The most challenging thing is to be torn between family and war - Ukrainian defender

The story of a soldier who defends Ukraine from the Russian forces is told by Espreso channel.

A soldier with the callsign Nimets (translated as "German") is a temporary acting company commander of the 24th separate mechanized brigade named after King Danylo. He has been in the army since 2014. First, he participated in Anti-terrorist Operation Zone, then in the Joint Forces Operation, and after February 24, he repelled attacks from a full-scale Russian invasion. 

He fought on the Svitlodarsk salient and got into the Debaltseve "kettle."

In 2014, the man was mobilized into the army during the third wave. Then he got into the 30th Mechanized Brigade. Military service was not new to a soldier. In 2009, he went to the army and later signed a contract with the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Then he was trained at the 169th Desna training center and served in the "Royal" (24th separate mechanized brigade - ed.) brigade. 

"Everyone loves some specialty and something to do. Perhaps I fell in love with this military uniform and this service," says Nimets. "I liked everything about military service: it taught me discipline and specific, sober and fair decisions. A gunner for a T-64 tank operator was my first profession. It was difficult sometimes, but everything worked bit by bit," the soldier told.

In 2014, the soldier went to the front as part of the 30th Brigade. He was an IFV driver. According to him, during the fighting, a lot of his conscription experience appeared useful. Then he participated in the battles for the Svitlodarsk and got into the Debaltseve kettle.

"There was a tank and infantry battle. Everything is the same as it is now, except for aviation and cruise missiles," Nimets recalls. "Infantry and commanders played a significant role then. The strongest unit commander won. When Russian troops marched under the flag of the "Donetsk People's Republic/Luhansk People's Republic," it was noticeable that they were regular Russian military personnel. We took them as prisoners and found documents indicating they were regular Russian troops. They also had similar behavior as in Irpin and Bucha, only they hid it more. I mean about women and children. There was a lot of fake information in the occupied territories. If Russia had launched such an offensive on February 24, it would have captured Ukraine. Now, it is unrealistic to do this," the soldier claimed. 

Although his hand was wounded, he continued to fight in the Kherson region

Nimets had been fighting Russia until February 2022. Then his son was born and the man decided to end his military career. A full-scale Russian invasion forced him to leave his family and return to the front.

"My family is very strong. My wife supports me in everything," the military man notes. "So in July of this year, I joined the Ukrainian Armed Forces again. Now there is a huge difference in combat operations. In 2014, there were more infantry battles, the Russian forces advanced a little less. Now, there is more war of artillery and counter-battery, aviation, and cruise missiles. However, we have strong training. We learned how to fight and we are ready to hit Russian forces in the teeth. And that is what every Ukrainian sees — how we are recapturing Ukrainian territories piece by piece," the soldier said. 

In July, the soldier went to the Kherson direction. He admits that the situation was difficult: Russian aircraft flew and bombed Ukrainian troops. 

"We gave a worthy rebuff. My company hit more than seven enemy targets. We shot down UAVs, two automatic gun grenade launchers, a warehouse of ammunition and lightly armored equipment," the soldier stated. "I was prepared for such a war. They walk aggressively, even entering a distance of 400-500 meters in small and large groups. Then there are melee battles. During one offensive, when we entered the trenches, I received a minor shrapnel wound. The company medic told the commander to decide if I could continue the battle. But I decided on my own to continue fighting together with my fellow soldiers," he commented. 

Now Nimets performs the duties of a company commander in the "Royal" brigade. He deals with dozens of military personnel. He admits that now most of all, he wants to save the lives of his personnel, so he actively teaches his subordinates. He also seeks to prevent the enemy from breaking through and recapturing Ukrainian land. The soldiers have to work with the latest equipment, which was handed over to us by foreign partners.

"I can compare two infantry fighting vehicles: our Soviet BMP-2 and the Czech IFV," says the soldier. "The engine of our vehicle is an old one that has exhausted its resource. It's much better in theirs. Our cannon does not shoot accurately, and theirs is much more accurate, even though it likes cleanliness. There was a case in the Kherson direction when the enemy decided to go on the offensive against us. The Russian forces attracted a mortar battery, artillery battery and infantry. We gave a worthy rebuff to them. The Russian army lost almost two hundred people and went back," Nimets shared. 

The man still stays in the army and trains his subordinates, and also never abandons them in battle. He says that the guys are fun and motivated. It's easy with them because they know they are defending the Ukrainian land. But the most challenging thing is to be torn between family and war. Now, this is the biggest challenge for a man.