The international delegation, headed by Ana Lucía Bueno, ICRC Public Health Coordinator, and Sujit Panda, Head of the Physical Rehabilitation…
With the start of russia’s full-scale invasion, border guard Bohdan, callsign Kaban, made supporting his brothers-in-arms his main mission: in 2022 — with a tourniquet and medicines, today — with fire missions from an MLRS.
His story was shared on the State Border Guard Service website.
“The main thing is to support your brothers in time”, — he says.
Bohdan began his combat path with the desire to avenge his best friend killed by russian occupiers. This motivation brought him to a combat unit of the State Border Guard Service. Next came Bakhmut.
He entered the famous fortress-city as a combat medic, but in the intervals between evacuations and saving lives, he often had to act as a “part-time psychologist” for his comrades.
“To reduce stress somehow, I gathered the guys in my medical station: we talked a lot, played cards, shared stories about life outside the war — it helped us stay afloat”, — Kaban says.
He gained true combat experience in Makiivka and Novovodiane, where border guards fought side-by-side with AFU service members repelling numerous enemy assaults. Kaban left his observation post and moved to a forward position to help a severely wounded soldier from a neighboring unit.
“The enemy dropped explosives from drones, and one soldier suffered a severe abdominal wound. I did everything I could and requested evacuation for him, while I stayed in his position because we needed to hold the line so the enemy wouldn’t advance”, — the border guard recounts.
Those events were etched into Bohdan’s memory like a scene from an action movie. Everything flew and exploded around, and amidst this chaos, one thing was missing — volleys of their own artillery, from which the enemy hid in every possible hole, but it didn’t save them. That’s when the soldier understood the true power of fire support.
“The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine is being reformed and rearmed to EU and NATO standards. Border units are being strengthened with powerful fire means”, — the SBGSU noted.
When the Hart Brigade received its own artillery, Bohdan eagerly joined the “Gods of War”, knowing he would help his comrades much more this way.
“I know what it’s like to sit in the infantry without any support. And now, when we go out on a mission — I’m glad, because I know I’m helping our guys fighting with rifles in their hands”, — Kaban says.
The soldier is proud of his work and motivated by inflicting significant losses on the enemy. According to Bohdan, each MLRS salvo is a step toward victory over the invaders, so he works with inspiration 24/7 in any weather.
