For nearly 80 consecutive days, a National Guardsman from Netishyn in the Shepetivka District, known by the call sign "Tsyhan", endured relentless shelling, drone attacks, and Russian assaults while defending Ukraine on the Pokrovsk front in the Donetsk region. Alongside his comrades, he held the line under constant threat, risking his life every single day.

The soldier says his call sign was given to him by fellow service members and quickly became part of his military identity. For him, the war began on February 26, 2022, just days after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

According to the Guardsman, the greatest challenge on the battlefield is simple but unforgiving—staying alive.

"These days, the most important thing is to endure and survive," he says.

Defending a Half-Destroyed House

"Tsyhan" spent about three and a half months on the Pokrovsk front, including nearly 80 days in frontline positions. His unit defended an old village house that gradually turned into rubble under relentless Russian fire.

When they first occupied the position, the house still had a roof, windows, and a fence. By the time they rotated out, almost nothing remained.

"When I arrived, it still had windows, a roof, and a fence. When we left, there was nothing left," the soldier recalls.

The first week was the hardest. The unit had limited combat experience, while Russian forces continuously targeted their position with mortar fire.

At night, the soldiers sheltered in the basement. During the day, they defended the position, standing watch in pairs.

FPV Drones and Russian Assaults

The danger came not only from artillery.

On one occasion, two FPV drones struck the basement where the soldiers were sheltering.

"That meant they had already spotted us and were targeting us deliberately," the Guardsman explains.

The defenders had to secure their position in all directions, maintaining a full 360-degree defense. Just 200 meters away, a Russian platoon occupied another damaged building.

"It was almost direct visual contact. We could see them, and they could see us."

Russian assaults varied in intensity. Sometimes several attacks occurred in a single day, while at other times there would be a week of relative calm. Despite repeated attempts to break through, Ukrainian forces successfully held their ground.

A Rifle That Never Failed

Throughout the fighting, "Tsyhan" relied on a UAR-15, a Ukrainian-made rifle.

According to him, the weapon proved exceptionally reliable even under the harshest battlefield conditions.

"During all 80 days, it never failed me once. It's an outstanding weapon," he says.

Leaving the Position Under Fire

Withdrawing from the position proved to be just as dangerous as defending it.

Because Russian reconnaissance drones constantly monitored the area, the soldiers often had to spend hours hiding in tree lines, waiting for an opportunity to cross exposed terrain.

At one point, they were detected by a Russian Mavic reconnaissance drone. Almost immediately, they came under intense mortar fire, artillery strikes, and attacks by combat drones.

Even after escaping the frontline position, they still had about 35 kilometers to travel before reaching a safer area.

Recovering from a Concussion

During his deployment, "Tsyhan" suffered a concussion and a ruptured eardrum, temporarily losing hearing in his left ear.

Following rehabilitation, his hearing was successfully restored.

"Everything is fine now. The doctors did an excellent job," he says.

Family as His Greatest Motivation

The National Guardsman says the greatest source of strength for Ukrainian soldiers is the support of their comrades and the people waiting for them at home.

"Volunteers, my wife, and my child—that's my greatest support."

His family gave him the determination to survive.

"I have a wife and a two-year-old son. I set one goal for myself—to make it out of that position and return to him. If you lose the will to live, the battlefield will catch up with you very quickly," he admits.

Despite everything he endured, the soldier speaks modestly about his service.

"It's our job. But I'm proud that we held the line and saved more than one life," he concludes.

Source: Military Unit 3043, National Guard of Ukraine.