The international delegation, headed by Ana Lucía Bueno, ICRC Public Health Coordinator, and Sujit Panda, Head of the Physical Rehabilitation…
Senior technician of the company of the unmanned systems battalion of the 110th Mechanized Brigade, Andrii Lutsak, joined the army in the first days of the full
His interview was published on February 26 by Army FM.
From heavy-copter pilot, he worked his way to a responsible technical position, where the functioning of equipment and the lives of his comrades depend on him. He spoke about his journey, frontline work, and the need for new specialists.
— I had experience because I served a year and a half of mandatory service in one of the National Guard units. I also took part in military training, where I gained new knowledge and skills. That became a good foundation for further service. I joined the Defense Forces at the very beginning of the full-scale invasion in 2022. In the morning, a friend wrote to me: “Look what’s happening”. Social networks were exploding with news of the attack. I thought everything over for a few days and realized the army needed me. On the fourth day of the war — February 28 — I went to the enlistment office myself, completed the required steps, and joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine. At first, I served in a rear unit, and we went on rotations and training. One day, after returning, I was told I was being transferred to a combat brigade. It was exciting because the responsibility was much greater. Later, the unmanned systems battalion of the 110th Brigade took me in. I started as a heavy-copter pilot, then became a group leader. The command took my civilian profession as an auto mechanic into account and appointed me senior technician. I hold this position now.
Andrii described the tasks his unit performs:
— We are in the Zaporizhzhia direction. Our tasks are reconnaissance, destroying enemy equipment and personnel, mining, and supporting combat units. There is a lot of work, and it is extremely important. We have many successes. We have destroyed a significant amount of enemy equipment and manpower, and repelled numerous assaults. But the main thing is the system we built inside the battalion. A person comes in and finds a coordinated mechanism with training, support, and a clear structure. It’s like a big family.
Andrii Lutsak also described his work:
— Most often we repair pickups — the main transport for delivering fighters to positions and for evacuation. People’s safety depends on the equipment’s condition. Our task is to do everything so that the driver is confident in the vehicle and knows it will not fail. The workload is very large. But thanks to the established system, everyone knows their job. We perform tasks on a specific section of the front and ensure uninterrupted operation of the unit.
The soldier talked about recruitment in the unit:
— We especially need UAV pilots, their assistants, sappers, and drivers. These are key specialties without which the unit cannot function effectively. All necessary training is provided. Information about vacancies can be found on our social media or on the website of the 110th Brigade. Vacancies are also posted on Work.ua and Robota.ua. A person contacts the recruiting center, goes through an interview, paperwork, and training, after which they join the unit.
