Director at 19, Hero of Ukraine at 25. This is the story of a reconnaissance unit commander who entered the Kursk region.

"Well, that's it, we've arrived"

Like any guy looking to make money, I started working as a teenager. At 14-15, I did some construction work. My first official job was as a waiter at 18. A few months later, I realized it wasn't for me and decided to focus on my studies.

Back in school, I chose to study law. I thought I would either become a lawyer or an attorney. During my internship at the city council and the police, where I mainly dealt with paperwork, I realized that I didn't want to be involved with government structures either. So, I opted for the business sector.

While studying, I worked at a real estate agency. I was promoted to director quite quickly, after just nine months. I was 19 at the time. It all just clicked — I probably found my niche.

Then came the "COVID" times. I remember going to the office where there were usually 20 people, and no one showed up for work. Literally nobody. At that moment, I thought: "Well, that's it, we've arrived. This is probably where my career will go downhill."

But I, along with a few other employees, managed to save the company. I realized I was capable of pulling someone’s business out of a crisis, and I thought: "What's the point of working here if I can successfully run my own business?" So, at 20, during the COVID period, I founded my own agency.

Now, we have become Metrum — a fairly strong company in the Lviv market. We have reached a point where we provide all real estate services. Now, the business operates without my involvement. We have two directors and my partner who oversees everything. The company is running and thriving. I am currently focused on other things.

By the way, my past experience — managing people — has been very helpful in the army.

It was also a plus that I studied law. We all know what the army is like. It's 18 journals and 20 types of reports. It can be quite overwhelming if you have no experience. It was easier for me because I at least understood what documents were and how to work with them.

"Go rest, it's not your time yet"

My grandmother was involved with the UPA — she helped the insurgents. Everyone in the family knew about this. So, I grew up understanding that if, God forbid, war breaks out, I would join the defense of the country. I was also studying at the University of Internal Affairs in the military department.

Additionally, school played a role. We had a historian who taught his subject well. I also remember the "Defense of the Fatherland" teacher — a peculiar man who instilled patriotism. He was a beekeeper and often brought jars of honey, made tea, and started the class that way. When you're 15-16, you usually don't want to go to the last lesson. But we went to his class.

I was a schoolboy when the Maidan began in 2014. In our city — Radekhiv — they erected the Memorial to the Heavenly Hundred. We all knew what was happening. I was watching TV and really wanted to help. I was worried that I couldn't contribute. But I waited for my time.

On February 24, 2022, my wife and children went abroad and evacuated two more families. I decided to join the military. Of course, I was scared. But I realized: if I don't go to defend my country now, we won't have one. And everything that our ancestors passed down to us — the land, history, culture — will be destroyed.

The way I ended up in the army felt like a quest. It was the end of February. I had just turned 23, and they didn't want to take me, saying I was too young and had no combat experience. They took guys with experience in ATO and older ones, while the youth were filtered out: "Go rest, it's not your time yet."

Then the mayor of Lviv, Andriy Sadovyi, recorded a video about forming a new 125 brigade. In the evening, I packed up and went. There were many vacancies in the new brigade, so I was accepted.

We were trained for a long time. Battalions were sent to positions one after another. We were among the last — I reached the front at the end of 2022.

I didn't know where I would end up. I didn't have enough military qualifications to choose. I wanted to get my weapon as quickly as possible and defend my homeland. I thought we would just get on a bus and go to defend Kyiv. But that didn't happen.

"Here with me is my hookah"

I immediately became a commander: first of a platoon in the 103 brigade, and later of the reconnaissance company in the 103 brigade TRO. Fate had it that I started doing reconnaissance.

How did I become a commander so quickly? Those who appointed me know better. But I believe it was deserved: people see your results.

I was lucky with the people. In the TRO, there were volunteers, including businessmen. These were conscious, motivated individuals. I was also lucky with my sergeant. He had combat experience and taught me. Of course, there were also tough moments, just like in any team.

They couldn't see me as anything other than a commander: I gained authority and maximum trust after the first outings and initial tasks.

When people saw that I was constantly with them on the "front line," that we were completing tasks together, sleeping in the same trenches or bunkers, eating the same food, they began to respect me. And when we performed well, all remained alive and healthy, they appreciated that. But it's a stage you need to reach.

I had to work with other commanders who were 24-25 years old. This is completely normal practice. Age doesn't matter for soldiers or commanders. What matters is what kind of person you are, how you build work, and what your team is like.

Sometimes I have to raise my voice if the situation demands it. For example, when someone doesn't understand or isn't fully committed. I explain why it's important, why they need to try. But you can't act like some sort of inadequate person who constantly yells.

If everything has been well executed, we just relax and joke around. We communicate as friends. If we can, we go for pizza or have coffee.

When we had the opportunity to relax after coming off the positions, I would set up my hookah, take it with me, and we would sit on poufs, look at the sky, and discuss various situations. We tried to relax as much as possible.

"If you allow doubts, everything will go off plan"

For me, the hardest was Tabayevka. We were entering an unfamiliar area, into abandoned positions. We didn't know if the Russians were already there or if it was empty. We searched for them on the map because we had no idea where they were. We had to keep ourselves under control and work with people.

It was tough. I understood that I couldn't lose my composure: once you start working, you have to keep going. You can't stop to think about the situation, worry, or reset yourself. You can do that when you return. On the positions, there must be maximum concentration. If you allow the thought that you're doing something wrong, everything will go off plan.

We had a situation like that. A guy who knew the way was leading the group. During a break, someone asked him if he was sure because it seemed we were going the wrong way. In the end, he changed the route. We entered that position, but through a completely different path — not the one we were supposed to take.

You need to dismiss even the slightest doubts when the group is working. You know the plan, you know what you're doing, you know the route and tasks — work clearly. Of course, you need to respond to emerging situations, but don't doubt yourself.

"Time to take a stroll in the Kursk region"

The news that we were going to the Kursk region caught me during my first vacation this year. I had to cut it short: on the eighth day, I got a call saying I needed to come urgently.

We had long joked that it was time for us to take a walk in the Kursk region. But seriously, we never talked about it. Nothing hinted that such a task would arise.

We were given a few days for preparation and to fill in the missing equipment. There was no time to worry or think. I focused on preparing the personnel, gathering material resources, particularly equipment and weapons. We prepared well.

There was no resistance from the locals. We didn't expect it, as they seemed a bit spineless: hiding in basements, looking at