“The target appeared suddenly and was destroyed in a moment” — Andriy on his first downed UAV

Andriy adjusts fire direction as part of an anti-aircraft gun crew.

His story was published by the 831st Myrhorod Tactical Aviation Brigade.

In his hands is a tablet — his main tool. On the screen: the course, speed, and direction of enemy UAVs. Everything is clear and emotionless. Everyone simply does their job.

Once an air-raid alert is announced, a ginger cat silently comes to the position, sits beside the anti-aircraft gun, and freezes as if joining the watch.

Andriy remembers his first downed UAV clearly:

“The target appeared suddenly and was destroyed in a moment. In total, the units I served with destroyed more than a dozen enemy drones”, — he says.

Every such target means saved lives. And every time, after a successful shot, the cat seems to watch the sky just as attentively.

Now Andriy serves in the same crew as Valerii — an experienced soldier who has been in service since 2003.

He says coordination, trust, and support are vital on the position. And even that “ginger tail” nearby is part of their small combat family.

The cat doesn’t leave until the all-clear. It waits with them, sits in silence after the adrenaline rush, as if guarding their peace.

The enemy attempts daily attacks on Ukrainian cities. But such soldiers — and even their ginger talisman — guard the sky.

Because defense strength is not only in technology. It’s in people who hold the line — and those who silently sit beside them when the battle begins.