A fighter with the call sign “Cross” has gone through a path in the Marine Corps from DShK machine gun operator to working with strike drones, fighting on key fronts of the war against Russia since 2016.

This is reported in the project “Marines of the 36th: Stories of the Passing Year”, published on the page of the 36th Separate Marine Brigade named after Rear Admiral Mykhailo Bilynskyi.

A Decision at 18

Artem joined the military in 2016 after meeting servicemen at his educational institution. He was 18 years old. He did not hesitate and independently contacted the Territorial Recruitment Center. Later, he met one of those servicemen already at the front — a chance encounter that grew into a long-term frontline friendship.

“Cross” began his service in the 503rd Marine Battalion on the Mariupol direction, first as a second DShK operator and later as a squad commander.

The operation near Vodiane

One of the most difficult operations of his service was the seizure of a key height near Vodiane. According to the command’s task, the unit had to clear the approaches of mines and occupy an enemy observation post.

“We had to dig about 250 meters to reach the position. We dug day and night — under heavy fire”, — Artem recalls.

During this operation, he neutralized more than a hundred anti-tank mines. “Cross’s” squad was the first to enter the enemy position and consolidate. For four months, the marines held the height, effectively cutting off the enemy’s logistics and communications. For this operation, Artem was awarded the Order “For Courage”. 3rd Class.

Returning from the Ocean to War

After completing his contract, “Cross” attempted to return to civilian life and worked on a merchant vessel. However, he later signed another contract and returned to the battalion, this time near Horlivka.

The full-scale invasion caught him in the Indian Ocean. The journey home took several weeks — traveling through Africa to reach Ukraine and rejoin the ranks.

Within the 36th Brigade, he served in a reconnaissance company, a sniper unit, fought in Kherson Oblast, Donbas, during the Zaporizhzhia counteroffensive. Later, he worked with “Kazhan” and “Vampir” bomber drones, and in the Kursk direction, “Cross’s” crew destroyed more than 12 units of Russian equipment.

Two fronts — one choice

“Cross’s” personal life is also connected to the war. In Sumy Oblast, he met his beloved — a combat medic of the 80th Air Assault Brigade.

“We fight on different fronts. I worry about her a lot — the work of a combat medic is extremely dangerous. But I hear in response: ‘This is my job’”, — he says.

Despite constant tension and distance, both are held together by a shared understanding of the war and their own choice — without illusions, but with responsibility for the future.