The international delegation, headed by Ana Lucía Bueno, ICRC Public Health Coordinator, and Sujit Panda, Head of the Physical Rehabilitation…
“Papa” received his call sign not from the war, but from life. During the war he has been an assault trooper, a commander, and a combat vehicle driver; his story is yet another example that anyone with motivation can find their place in the army.
A publication about him was released on February 3 by the 25th Sicheslav Air Assault Brigade.
He wasn’t prepared for war. What he had was internal discipline, the Suvorov Military School, and an understanding of order — and that was it. The rest he had to learn already in the brigade, where no one asked who you were before. What mattered was whether you could listen, act, and hold the line.
“Papa” began the war as a rifleman, but not for long. War quickly puts people in the positions they belong. He became a squad leader: eight fighters, positions, decisions made in the trench under fire. As a commander, he was always inside the fight.
He recalls his first assault calmly. Without emotion. There were no thoughts, only actions, because stopping meant defeat. That was how the 90 days went: positions, sorties, short rest, and forward again — until it became a rhythm.
“What you remember are not the battles but the moments”, — says Papa — “How several men silently take back a position; how captured weapons, radios, the first drone stop being a stroke of luck and become working tools. Back then we even walked to retrieve drones — across open areas. It was part of the job”.
For exceptional heroism, character, and ingenuity in assault actions, “Papa” received the Air Assault Forces Commander’s award “For the Assault”.
After being wounded, “Papa” returned as a combat vehicle driver. Night drives, transporting people and supplies, moving without lights or navigation. Hard, dangerous, but necessary.
He does not romanticize service. He says honestly: he thought about leaving, he was exhausted. Life without a home is sometimes harder than battle. But the people around became his support. Home is here now. He visits peaceful life like visiting someone — briefly.
