Our today's Guardian of Light is Oleksii, with the call sign Chemist. Until February 24, 2022, he ad worked at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, had career growth, a family and a hobby –yachting. He was responsible for everything. At the NPP, he went through the entire profession path – from a turbine field operator to a senior turbine operator. He also had achievements in sailing sports – many awards in competitions of various level.
“The Zaporizhzhia NPP is 16 years of my life,” Oleksii says. - “At first, I started my career in a worker position and went through all the ranks of turbine field operator, and before the war I was transferred to the main control room. For more than ten years, I was part of the crew of the plant yacht. We went not only along the Dnieper, but also had long-distance tours along the Black and Marmara seas. We took part in competitions where there were crews from all over Ukraine. It was cool!”
But then a full-scale war came into the life of the nuclear engineer. That morning, Oleksii went to the Training Center for training, but he never passed it. On the way to the TC, he made calls to the fellows with whom he had served in the army, clarified the plan of action. Therefore, in a few hours, our Guardian arrived at the military headquarters.
“There were a lot of people and complete chaos,” the resident of Energodar recalls. – “The military commissar and my supervisor gave me one more day for arrangements. I informed the NPP that I was mobilizing, packed my things and had some time to spend with my family. And on the morning of February 25, my fellows and I evacuated the Energodar Military Commissariat, saved personal files and property. Then we were taken to the assembly point in Zaporizhzhia, where there was also chaos and an incomprehensible commotion. They kept us until the evening, and then they formed units and sent us to training centers.”
Oleksii's unit was trained in the Dnipropetrovsk region, and then he was sent to the Donetsk direction to reinforce his comrades-in-arms in Volnovakha. At first, the military was engaged only in the evacuation of the civilian population, but there were heavy battles later.
“At that time, there were many people left in the city, which was under heavy fire from artillery, tanks and mortars,” – the defender says. – “We tried to accompany them to the evacuation buses, and to distribute the elder people into cars and take them away. As far as I know, on March 4 there was even an agreement with the occupiers about a green corridor for civilians. It was supposed to last from 11:00 a.m. to 03:00 p.m., but already at 11:40 a.m. people who came for evacuation began to be shot at. So everything was cancelled, civilians were taking refuge in shelters. We held positions in the city, and on March 9, I received a radio signal to withdraw. I still did not understand the reason, but I carried out the order. Having collected the guys from my unit, I came to the assembly point. The city was already thoroughly bombed.”
After that, there was an order to leave the city by our own forces and information about the breakthrough of one of the flanks. Moreover, that meant that Volnovakha was almost surrounded and under fire control of the enemy. By the evening, the defenders were able not only to break out of hell, but also to reach another settlement. Throughout the entire way, the russians did not cease to fire ungodly, then the Ukrainian defenders had many wounded and dead. Nature saved us from an even greater tragedy – the snow began to fall profusely and prevented enemy drones from hunting the target.
“For several days, we simply retreated through the villages, because the enemy did not stop advancing,” – the Guardian says. – “And after we got into a very intense battle on March 16 in Volodymyrka, near Vughledar, we were given some rest and taken to the rear. Then a new troop, a new infantry unit was formed, we were provided with more powerful weapons, passed training and were sent again in the same direction. We held positions there for a month and a half, and in the summer of 2022, we conducted a successful operation in Pavlivka. I am very proud of that. Everything was planned perfectly, so theywe liberated the village without any losses, and captured many ruscists. It is an incredible feeling when people run out of basements, shelters, and houses to the street, call their relatives and shout: Ours are back!. That's very nice to hear.”
After the Victory in Pavlivka, the Ukrainian defenders advanced little by little. On that part of the front, there were constant heavy battles with the marines of the russian federation, but our guys did not surrender their positions. After handing over the defensive line to another unit, Oleksii and his brothers-in-arms thought they were going on vacation, but instead they came to Bakhmut. Having received a severe contusion in battle, Khimik went for treatment.
Only then, the Ukrainian was able to rest and see his family. For that time being, his relatives had already got away from Energodar, so Oleksii was able to breathe and concentrate on military affairs. Then there were two rotations in Bakhmut, later in Vugledar, since Pavlivka was again under the control of the occupiers, and after that Avdiivka, Vodyane.
“On October 10, 2023, the military assault of Avdiyivka began, and it was quite a serious operation,” – the defender emphasizes. – “At that time, I was no longer working in the field, but due to concussions, I was transferred to the battalion management. Daily column military assaults began. We held our positions quite effectively, and destroyed a lot of enemy equipment. Our flanks were cut off, so we had to backtrack. At that time, they were significantly crushed. A year later, we were transferred to another, calmer direction. Now we are recovering, building up our muscles, as people say.”
For more than two and a half years of war in the hottest spots of the front, Oleksii lost a lot: happy years of peaceful life, health and comrades-in-arms. However, he managed to keep the most important thing – a sense of humor and faith in Victory. All these things are kept thanks to the support of comrades-in-arms.
“We became one whole and had complete mutual understanding,” Khimik explains,“so we could joke and talk about anything. But when we performed tasks, we worked harmoniously and efficiently. Unfortunately, very few of the guys I went to fight with in the beginning are left with me. Others are recovering from injuries, some of them are fighting somewhere in the rear due to injuries, and some are no longer here...
However, I want to tell our defenders that we need to hold on and go to the end. Because, who but us? Those who are in the rear must understand that we are tired and it is becoming difficult for us, so we need to be strengthened and replaced. Because only together we will be able to overcome this evil! Glory to Ukraine! Glory to heroes!”
