The international delegation, headed by Ana Lucía Bueno, ICRC Public Health Coordinator, and Sujit Panda, Head of the Physical Rehabilitation…
Staff Sergeant of the 48th Engineering Kamianets-Podilskyi Brigade Mykhailo Rozhoniuk has been defending Ukraine since the first days of the full-scale invasion
As a clearing vehicle commander in a breaching platoon, he carried out combat missions in Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, and Belgorod regions, as well as in Sumy and Kursk regions.
For his demonstrated heroism and bravery, the serviceman became a full Knight of the Order “For Courage”, sequentially receiving the 3rd, 2nd, and 1st Class of this high state award in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
Read about Staff Sergeant Mykhailo Rozhoniuk, call sign “Petrovych”, in the article by ArmyInform.
Mykhailo Rozhoniuk comes from the village of Moroziv in Kamianets-Podilskyi district of Khmelnytskyi region. A modest 59-year-old man, he does not like talking about himself, so his commander, Junior Lieutenant Oleksandr, tells us about the hero.
“Petrovych completed his compulsory military service back in Soviet times. He was mobilized in 2015 when the Russian–Ukrainian war began. After demobilization he signed a contract, served another three years, and returned to civilian life”, — says Junior Lieutenant Oleksandr.
On 24 February, Mykhailo Rozhoniuk was a civilian, but in the very first days, without hesitation, he once again joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine, fully aware that he needed to stand with his comrades and defend his homeland.
“In the first days of mobilization, he underwent brief training within the 48th Brigade to become a clearing vehicle commander of the IMR-2M. It is a heavy armored tracked vehicle based on the T-72 tank”, — the officer continues.
The IMR-2M engineering obstacle-clearing vehicle is designed to create passages through minefields, debris, and fortification barriers, as well as to clear routes for troop movement.
It can move soil with a bulldozer blade, remove obstacles with a manipulator, and perform engineering work. The IMR-2M is used in both offensive and defensive operations to ensure the safe advance of equipment and units.
Therefore, the IMR-2M clearing vehicle, which “Petrovych” began commanding after short-term training, is intended to be the first to enter mined areas and clear a path for other forces.
Commanding the IMR-2M, Mykhailo Rozhoniuk would always literally go ahead of the very first assaulting elements, punching through with his armored machine to open the way for other units of the Defense Forces. His first combat deployment was in the Zaporizhzhia direction.
“In the Zaporizhzhia direction, ‘Petrovych’ worked with the 33rd Separate Mechanized Brigade and the 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade ‘Mahura’. They broke through enemy positions and cleared routes for our troops”, — Rozhoniuk’s commander says.
Next came Kharkiv and Belgorod regions, when the Defense Forces of Ukraine achieved a notable breakthrough onto the territory of the aggressor state, the Russian Federation. It was the IMR-2M under Rozhoniuk’s command that opened the way for the units at that time.
“This equipment was used in assault operations, advancing first to breach borders and enemy positions. Mostly these were ‘dragon’s teeth’, minefields, and anti-tank ditches”, — explains commander Oleksandr.
“Petrovych” again went ahead, not only breaking the way forward but also taking the first enemy counterstrikes upon himself. Under heavy enemy fire, he repeatedly had to risk his life.
The Kursk offensive operation, which began in August 2024, became particularly challenging and dangerous for Mykhailo Rozhoniuk. At that time, units of the 48th Engineering Kamianets-Podilskyi Brigade opened the way for Ukrainian airborne troops.
“During the Kursk operation, we first cooperated with units of the 82nd Separate Air Assault Bukovyna Brigade, then with the 95th Separate Air Assault Polissia Brigade. Very closely, very tightly — they cannot do without us, and we need them”, — the officer explains.
On 6 August 2024, when the Kursk operation began, the first to enter battle were units of the 49th Separate Obstacle-Clearing Brigade of the Support Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the 48th Engineering Kamianets-Podilskyi Brigade of the Support Forces. The combat vehicle under the command of Mykhailo Rozhoniuk was among them.
Engineering troops cleared routes, overcame barriers, built crossings, and ensured the passage of assault units deep into the Russian defense. The soldiers acted quickly, precisely, and professionally, opening the way for the main forces to break through.
During one of the missions, the IMR-2 under “Petrovych’s” command came under an especially heavy enemy strike. Despite this, he managed to lead the vehicle through engineering and mine-explosive barriers.
This enabled other units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to capture enemy strongpoints without losses and rapidly continue the offensive. The determined and courageous actions of Mykhailo Rozhoniuk helped save the lives of many Ukrainian soldiers.
“The vehicle has proven to be quite good in terms of mobility, passage clearance speed, and, of course, crew protection. It withstood multiple FPV-drone strikes, because its armor is thick and protects well.
Compared to foreign equipment, the IMR-2M1 performs well and is not inferior to international models. The crew feels sufficiently protected to carry out combat missions”, — notes commander Oleksandr.
This robust protection is what saved the life of the crew under Rozhoniuk’s command, allowing them to withstand enemy fire, complete the mission, and return to their comrades.
Today, despite his respectable age, Mykhailo Rozhoniuk, call sign “Petrovych”, continues his service. Not only does he pass on his invaluable combat experience to younger fighters, he also eagerly continues learning himself.
In particular, the serviceman is actively mastering the foreign analogue to the IMR-2M1 — the American M1150 ABV engineering breaching vehicle based on the M1 Abrams tank.
The professionalism and experience gained over many years of service allow the staff sergeant to always find the best way to confidently complete even the most complex combat tasks.
“When you give a man like ‘Petrovych’ a mission, he looks for a hundred ways to complete it in the best and fastest way. Because he knows he’s doing it for his soldiers, for his brothers-in-arms. That’s why Staff Sergeant Mykhailo Rozhoniuk is truly in the right place in the Armed Forces”, — emphasizes his commander, Junior Lieutenant Oleksandr.
