The international delegation, headed by Ana Lucía Bueno, ICRC Public Health Coordinator, and Sujit Panda, Head of the Physical Rehabilitation…
On February 24, 2022, a soldier with the callsign “Did” (“Grandpa”) was working as a taxi driver. When enemy shelling began, drivers immediately had a lot of work.
His story was published on the page of the 33rd Separate Mechanized Brigade.
“Did” is a driver in artillery reconnaissance. He worked in international transport, then earned a living as a taxi driver, and in early 2023 he was mobilized into the Armed Forces. He has served in the 33rd Brigade almost since its creation.
“When the full-scale invasion began, I helped people evacuate, delivered various cargoes. But I understood that all of this was temporary and that soon I would have to go defend the Motherland”, — he recalls.
During basic training, his professional skills determined his further service, as the Armed Forces knew he was an experienced driver.
As “Did” recalls, they asked him whether he could drive large military vehicles, and when he answered yes, he was soon assigned to an artillery reconnaissance battery.
His first combat mission was in the Zaporizhzhia direction. He began transporting drone reconnaissance crews to positions.
“My combat work began near Mala Tokmachka and Robotyne. My first impressions were mixed: interesting but difficult at the same time. But I immediately realized that the hardest part of my driving service is moving in bad weather. As for danger — I thought about it less. And in 2023 in Zaporizhzhia there weren’t as many FPV drones as later in the Donetsk region”, — the soldier says.
“Did” arrived in the Donetsk region in 2024. Danger awaits at every step there.
“Once I was delivering a drone crew to a position. And on the road the occupiers placed an improvised mine and camouflaged it well. I clipped that mine with a wheel — just clipped it, not ran over it, because I had experience and was moving very carefully. The mine detonated, damaged the vehicle — but thank God, my crew remained alive and uninjured”, — he said.
They then had to continue on foot, returning to the vehicle later.
Another memorable incident happened in 2025.
“I was driving near Shakhove. I had just crossed the forest toward one of the positions and drove into an open area between tree lines. And then an enemy FPV drone flew in. Our electronic warfare devices jammed it, I maneuvered, but it still managed to clip my vehicle from the side”, — “Did” recalls.
He says they reacted immediately, quickly jumped out of the car, and ran into the tree line to hide. Meanwhile another drone caught up with them in the grove and hit him in the helmet — but under electronic warfare influence, it also shut down and did not detonate.
Fortunately, in that situation everyone remained alive and unharmed, and the equipment was not damaged.
“Did’s” ability to react quickly and decisively in dangerous situations, along with his driving and combat experience, is well known and valued in the unit.
He became the driver of a radar station. The pickup he had used to transport drone crews was replaced by another military vehicle — the famous “Hummer”.
“This vehicle is interesting, truly legendary. Wider, more powerful. Of course, you always need to remember that you have a trailer behind you — and not forget that this vehicle is meant more for sand than for our heavy clay and black soil. In short, the Hummer has a slightly different driving specificity. But we are learning — and continue fighting for Victory”, — the soldier says.
“Did” has a firm and unshakeable understanding of our Victory.
“We go to defend our family. That is our primary motivation. We think about our loved ones — and know what we’re fighting for. And Victory must be real — the moskals must leave our land forever”, — he emphasized.
