Border guard from Lviv region survives Grad shell that lands near trench

Explosion one metre from shelter

The life of border guard Mykhailo, a native of the Lviv region, was spared by mere seconds when an enemy projectile from a Grad multiple rocket launcher system struck just one metre from his trench. The blast wave buried him and a neighbouring soldier in earth, yet both survived. This incident was just one of many trials for the defender, who has been serving to protect Ukraine since 2014.

Path from conscription to the front

The soldier's story was published on the official resource of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. Mykhailo began his military career after completing his conscription service in 2004, when he joined the ranks of the State Border Guard Service. He saw his first combat in August 2014 in the Luhansk region.

During the following year, he returned to civilian life and worked as a pump station operator. However, with the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, Mykhailo took up arms again. This decision was made despite the fact that he had recently undergone surgical treatment and had health problems.

Changes in combat

After a period of service in the Zhytomyr region, the soldier, together with his comrades, took part in the defence of the Donetsk region. Subsequently, his combat missions included operations in the Vovchansk and Serebrianske forests.

According to Mykhailo, the nature of combat has changed significantly during the full-scale war. In addition to artillery shelling and infantry assaults, there is now a constant threat from unmanned aerial vehicles.

«Кожен рік на війні інший. Щороку ставало важче», — розповідає Михайло. (Every year at war is different. It got harder every year, Mykhailo says.)

The main supports that help him endure are thoughts of his wife and parents, children's amulets given by his nephews, and the support of his comrades.