The international delegation, headed by Ana Lucía Bueno, ICRC Public Health Coordinator, and Sujit Panda, Head of the Physical Rehabilitation…
He could have stayed abroad. He could have waited. But he chose the path that leads to war — and one on which people remain to the end. Mykola “Horets” is a squad commander of the 148th Separate Artillery Zhytomyr Brigade.
The soldier’s story was published on the brigade’s Facebook page.
“Before the war, I worked abroad as a private entrepreneur. I lived an ordinary life, like many others. But when it all began, there were no doubts. I went immediately”, — Mykola recalls.
His first attempts to join the army were unsuccessful — there were too many volunteers.
“They didn’t take me. They said—wait. I came again. And again. I just understood: if not now, then when?”
Eventually, he was accepted, and thus began his path to war. Mykola is originally from Zakarpattia region, Rakhiv district. He says the mountains teach endurance from an early age.
“Horets” trained as a gunner on the 2S3 Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system and later joined what was then the 148th Separate Self-Propelled Howitzer Artillery Battalion.
Since 2023, Mykola has been fighting on the CAESAR self-propelled artillery system. He says that transitioning to new equipment is a new level of responsibility.
“It has always been important for me not just to carry out orders, but to understand the process. I see that I can be more useful—passing on experience, helping younger soldiers, advising officers, sergeants, and soldiers. It’s not about the position — it’s about the result”.
Today, Horets is undergoing officer training courses. After completing them, he will assume the position of artillery platoon commander.
This is not a story about rank. It is a story about the path of a person who consciously came to war — and stayed in the ranks for the sake of others.
