Courage and faith in service to the homeland help the Ukrainian military continue to defend the country through hardship and pain. Learn the amazing stories of soldiers whose determination and perseverance bring them back to service after harsh trials

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The Ukrainian people are rightfully considered the bravest and most loyal to their country. Soldiers who continue to defend Ukrainian territory are role models for all their fellow citizens. We are telling you about the unique stories of the military who, despite everything, continue to fight for the freedom and sovereignty of the Ukrainian state.

It is worth noting that during the war in Ukraine since 2014, many servicemen have received prestigious awards and titles. Each of them has gone through their own service history and shown how devoted to their country the people of Ukraine are. Unfortunately, we are physically unable to tell you about all the feats and heroic deeds of the soldiers, but the Visit Ukraine team expresses its gratitude to everyone who defends Ukraine.

Prosthesis will not prevent him from returning to service

Ukrainian soldier Andriy Marchuk, originally from the Kherson region, went to war at the very beginning of russian aggression in 2014 and was an integral part of the army until the start of the full-scale russian invasion in 2022. Marchuk defended the country's sovereignty in the Luhansk sector.

Here is what he says about the first days of the russian invasion: "We knew we were going to be attacked, so we gathered and waited for the command. The first day was brutal."

Almost a year into the war, Andriy was wounded near Kreminna when he hit an anti-personnel mine.

Due to the severe injury, doctors had to amputate his leg, after which the soldier underwent extensive treatment, prosthetics and rehabilitation. However, the soldier did not lose heart and decided to continue his military service for the good of the country. According to Andriy, he is soon going to return to service as a battalion instructor. He says he wants to teach young people.

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Holding the front with one hand

Vitaliy with the call sign "Ara" is another example for the younger generation of Ukraine. The infantryman of the 10th Mountain Assault Brigade lost his arm during a full-scale war while performing a combat mission.

"Ara" also received a bullet wound and several contusions. All these injuries did not stop the Ukrainian hero.

The biggest concern for the man after his injury was whether he would be able to return to his comrades. However, after a short rehabilitation, the guy continues to fight at the forefront again.

During short rotations in his free time, Ara improves his one-handed shooting skills.

Of course, the soldier has a prosthesis. But after the prosthesis got caught while firing an under-barrel grenade launcher and flew towards the enemy, the soldier left it in the rear.

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He is undergoing treatment to return to the front

Three wounded soldiers near Bakhmut are being treated at the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Clinical Hospital to return to the front to join their comrades.

Ihor is a fighter from the town of Tlumach, Ivano-Frankivsk region. The soldier fought near Soledar in the Bakhmut sector.

"This is a gunshot wound to the tibia. There are many guys here who were much less fortunate - some lost an arm, some a leg. So I think I was very lucky," says Ihor.

Another soldier, Andriy, also told his story: he was lying wounded on the ground for about four hours under fire and was waiting for evacuation.

While undergoing treatment, Andriy gives advice to young soldiers: you need to know math to avoid getting under fire.

"You need to be friends with math - you need to know how much time you have when the tank is reloading, how many seconds you have to move to another place. A shot and you have eight seconds to change your position. You count and listen to all this - you listen all the time," he says.

Their fellow soldier Viacheslav, originally from Sumy region, together with his comrades repelled the russian offensive in different directions. The soldier, who is currently undergoing treatment in Ivano-Frankivsk for his wounded arm, recalls that the most difficult situation was near Lysychansk in Luhansk region.

"It was a real hell there. They (the occupiers - ed.) surrounded the city from two sides and almost took us into a ring. We were leaving there one by one, as best we could. The guys gathered in one place and a shell hit. The guys were gone. We brought weapons, and those who remained to guard the ammunition were also killed by the shell. A lot of guys were killed," says Viacheslav.

The three heroes are now continuing their treatment in the hope of returning to their comrades and continuing to defend the country from the aggressor.

They returned despite the difficult times in captivity

Many people know or have at least heard about the Ukrainian soldiers and commanders who defended Mariupol and were surrounded while at the Azovstal plant.

After a long resistance, the Ukrainian soldiers received an order to leave the plant and thus surrender to the russians to save the lives of their personnel.

Ukraine managed to return some of these soldiers from captivity. All the horror they had experienced there could be read in their eyes when they were released.

However, despite the russians' attempts to break the spirit of our fighters, they still returned to their comrades. Earlier we wrote that the commander of the Azov Brigade, Denys Prokopenko, with the call sign "Redis", began performing combat missions with his brigade. Read more about it here.

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Superheroes of our time

Ukrainian soldiers have already proved to the world that they are heroic individuals who should be talked about every day in every corner of our planet.

All their stories are different, but they all have the same goal - to defeat the enemy and return to their families.

It is also worth remembering that many Ukrainian soldiers are now in captivity in russia and are experiencing real horror there, which even the worst enemy cannot wish.

Many thanks to the defenders of Ukraine! Eternal glory to the Heroes!

Main photo: mvs.gov.ua/uk/geroyi-mvs

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