The international delegation, headed by Ana Lucía Bueno, ICRC Public Health Coordinator, and Sujit Panda, Head of the Physical Rehabilitation…
The Chief Sergeant of a Platoon of the 72nd Separate Mechanized Brigade named after the Black Zaporozhians, callsign “Jack”, shared his military path, combat episodes on the hottest fronts, and the role of an NCO in war.
His story was published on the brigade’s channel.
His service began in 2015, when he volunteered for the National Guard of Ukraine, serving in artillery reconnaissance until 2021.
After the start of the full-scale invasion, he attempted to return to his home brigade in Hostomel but was told: “You won’t make it there anymore”.
He then joined the 72nd Brigade. The first combat missions were carried out in the Kyiv region near Brovary, followed by Chernihiv, Sumy, and Kharkiv regions. In the Kharkiv sector, the unit took part in the assault on Kozacha Lopan.
From May 2022, fighting continued in Donbas: Lysychansk, Nyrkove, Vrubivka, Bakhmut, Vuhlehirsk TPP, Kodema, later Vuhledar, and Vodiane near the Pivdennodonbaska Mine.
Jack vividly recalled the assault at the mine:
“First, ‘Solntsepyoks’ worked on us, then two packages of ‘Grads’, after that six BMPs moved in. We looked at the monitor — and they were already coming through our doors”.
That was his first direct contact with the enemy at a distance of about 100 meters.
“One of our comrades said, ‘Why do I need that rifle?’ and went out with only grenades. He threw them and came back”, — Jack said.
As a result of the battle, Ukrainian troops captured trophies and took seven prisoners of war for exchange, without any personnel losses.
“That’s where I took an AK-12 of the latest modification. But behind every trophy there is pain — many friends have been killed over these years of war”, — the sergeant noted.
Currently, Jack serves as Chief Sergeant of a Platoon, responsible for infantry, logistics, and ammunition.
