The international delegation, headed by Ana Lucía Bueno, ICRC Public Health Coordinator, and Sujit Panda, Head of the Physical Rehabilitation…
Blood, mud, and deranged mercenaries from the Wagner PMC storming your tree line are anything but what you hope to experience during the winter holidays.
Yet that was exactly what reconnaissance soldier Vitalii, known by the call sign “Snow”, had to face on the eve of the New Year, while serving at the time in the 128th Separate Mountain Assault Brigade.
As the hero recalls, it all began on December 30, 2023, when he received the task of occupying a forest belt near Soledar and holding back the Wagner fighters’ advance for as long as possible.
After replenishing their ammunition en route, the Transcarpathian reconnaissance soldiers moved toward Kostiantynivka, where their unit was stationed at the time, as such missions require thorough preparation.
“We crawl into the house. The rest of the guys greet us warmly, along with a German volunteer named Ben. While passing through Kramatorsk, he was delivering medical supplies until his car broke down. That’s how he inadvertently became a member of our recon group. Ben was one of the few who genuinely looked forward to the New Year and planned to celebrate it. His head was adorned with a Christmas hat—the only marker in the house that reminded us the holiday was approaching. And his culinary creations always delighted our empty stomachs”, — Vitalii describes the atmosphere that prevailed in their shelter.
Around 1 a.m. on December 31, “Snow” and his comrades were preparing weapons and gear, while Ben — a former Bundeswehr paramedic — persistently asked to join them on the mission.
However, despite all his insistence, the German was politely refused, as there was no more room in the reconnaissance Humvee.
“At three in the morning we managed to get a short nap, and by five the Humvee was grunting with its cold engine while we quickly loaded everything we needed. To at least have something remind us of the holiday, instead of dry rations we ate Ben’s evening culinary masterpiece — pasta with sugo sauce”, — Vitalii recalls.
The brigade was met by artillery fire already on the approaches to the designated point, and the sounds of small-arms combat grew clearer and more ominous with every meter.
The Humvee clawed through the winter mud, carving its own track, yet the crew never doubted the capabilities of their steel beast.
“The vehicle was sliding, almost drifting sideways, but we moved forward confidently. The tree line that had been empty just yesterday was now swarming with newly arrived infantry. Soldiers were setting up positions — digging, camouflaging. ‘Ignor’ climbed into the hatch and prepared our captured PK machine gun for combat. The next tree line across the field — that was our point”, —Vitalii recalls.
As the reconnaissance Humvee passed the positions of adjacent rifle battalion units, the battle with the Wagner fighters was already in full swing.
Everyone understood that they had to act quickly — especially as enemy 152 mm and 120 mm shells began landing around them one after another.
“I hit the gas. ‘Ignor’ was on top behind the machine gun, ready to be the first to mow down the enemy. I drove straight ahead and literally flew into the tree line, which was already fighting along its edges, holding back the Wagner fighters. The Humvee crushed through the undergrowth, branches cracking beneath the wheels. We quickly dispersed”, — “Snow” continues.
Thanks to the unit’s coordination, preparation for combat took only minutes.
“Ignor” launched his Mavic drone and moments later reported:
“I see three. At the T-shaped junction they’re changing into our uniforms. Distance 800–1000 meters straight ahead. Higher up the tree line I see an abandoned ‘kopeika’ (BMP-1); Russians are nearby. Distance — 300 meters uphill”.
“‘Khudozhnyk’ wasted no time aiming at the enemy changing clothes and fired the first three grenades from the MK-19. ‘Hyria’ and ‘Nestor’ aimed the AGS-17 slightly higher to hit the enemy near the BMP. As for me, I had the honor of testing antipersonnel ‘pencils’ for the RPG-7. Shot. Explosion in the tree line. The radio erupted with Ignor’s joyful shout”, — Vitalii shares.
Then the entire position literally roared. The increasing tempo was picked up by neighboring units as well. Everything around came alive in new colors.
Suddenly, a young officer pushed through the thickets toward the reconnaissance soldiers. About 25 years old, wearing glasses. His uniform was new, but his hands were covered in blood, sweat pouring from his forehead.
Through labored breathing, he explained that a vehicle was urgently needed to evacuate a critically wounded soldier — placing “Snow” before a serious dilemma.
He did not want to abandon his men in the heat of battle, yet he could not leave a wounded soldier to bleed out. Time was running out.
After soberly assessing the situation, Vitalii made a difficult but absolutely necessary decision — to save the wounded man.
“I left the guys to hold the fight. My heart was aching — they’re all like family. The battle dynamics were insane, and if they had to withdraw urgently, without transport they could be trapped. I prayed, asking the Almighty to give us all strength and luck. Just once more. The holidays were so close… We quickly loaded the wounded man. Over the radio I contacted medevac and reported that I was evacuating a critical casualty. I chose the same route — straight ahead”, — “Snow” notes.
During the breakout, the Humvee’s engine roared so loudly it nearly drowned out the artillery, Vitalii recalls. The vehicle skidded, spun sideways, and the scout feared that the churned-up ground would eventually swallow the armored vehicle and not let it escape.
“Our female medics are the best in the universe”, — Vitalii states.
“Valkyries who are always nearby. They protect warriors, heal, restore. We coordinated over the radio and met almost on the outskirts of Soledar. Nastia and Oksana — fragile yet brave. We all have much to learn from them”.
After meeting the medics, he and several soldiers transferred the wounded man into the bed of an evacuation Mitsubishi L200 and left him in the caring hands of the combat medics.
There was no time to relax, however—the rest of the reconnaissance group continued fighting for the tree line, desperately holding back the enemy onslaught.
Time was slipping away. So when “Ignor” radioed that the enemy had already reached one edge of the tree line, it hit Vitalii like an electric shock.
“We rushed back along the already familiar route. During my absence, the guys managed to shred and repel the Wagner fighters, but the Mavic was lost. After that we adjusted fire and observed through binoculars — hitting wherever there was movement or the crunch of branches. The MK-19 ammunition ran out”, — Vitalii continues.
Eventually, the defenders’ efforts paid off. When the enemy assault slowed for a while, fate finally granted them a chance to catch their breath and briefly remember the approaching New Year.
“Right while loading the remaining ammunition, we managed to enjoy the cold pasta with sugo sauce that Ben had given us. We washed it down with cold cola, though we really craved something warm… Just a few more hours — and people would be celebrating the New Year. People would be wishing each other all the best, while we, under cover of darkness, without headlights, relying on night vision, God Himself, and our Humvee, would be pulling away from the positions”, — “Snow” recalls.
Although Vitalii had to spend the following New Year on the front line again, in 2025 he finally got the chance to celebrate the winter holidays with his family — a chance for all his worries, if only briefly, to dissolve amid the sparkle of New Year decorations and the friendly hum of loved ones. Because that moment of happiness in the embrace of those close to you is one of the values worth fighting for.
