A border guard recounted how he fought in the battles for Vovchansk and spent five days surrounded
Ivan, a border guard with the “Gart” brigade whose call sign is “Kit,” took part in the battles for Vovchansk, survived being wounded and spending five days surrounded by enemy forces, and upon his return continued his service as an instructor.
During the battles for Vovchansk, Ivan took part in repelling massive assaults by Russian troops and in close-quarters combat.
“The enemy was firing point-blank. Bullets struck my chest. Some were stopped by my gear. Others ricocheted off the knives on my belt. Wounded, exhausted, but alive—Ivan, a border guard with the “Gart” brigade, whose call sign was “Kit,” continued to fight,” the border guards noted.
During one of the battles, the group Ivan was part of became surrounded. Along with the soldiers were nine wounded comrades who needed to be evacuated.
They had to be evacuated at night, under fire, trying to outwit the enemy and returning to their positions each time.
“Five days without sleep. Five days of fighting for their lives. And not a single step toward surrender. They made it out, but those five days will remain in their memory forever. For ‘Kot,’ it wasn’t just combat experience. It was a school he had to attend at the cost of his own blood,” the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine reported.
According to Ivan, his first experience in a combat zone was difficult because he lacked knowledge and practical training at the time. He had to learn a great deal right in the midst of the war—under fire, in close combat, and through his own mistakes.
The injury he sustained did not force Ivan to leave the service. Upon his return, he continued to carry out his duties in a different role—now, as a border guard, he is responsible for training other service members.
“Kit” draws on his combat experience during training exercises at the range, where he prepares soldiers for situations they may encounter directly on the front lines.
Now, Ivan’s main task is to pass on to soldiers the knowledge he himself lacked at the time, as well as to teach them how to operate in challenging combat conditions.
His goal is to help soldiers better prepare for combat missions and increase their chances of returning home.
The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine shared the soldier’s story.
Previously, a scout with the 14th Special Operations Brigade “Chervona Kalyna” of the National Guard of Ukraine, with the call sign “Greek,” held a position in Rodynske on the Pokrovsk sector for nearly five months, while effectively surrounded by Russian troops.
Ukrainian troops in Donetsk Oblast carried out a sweep against Russian forces that had been massing in the area throughout the summer. As a result, the Russians failed to carry out their plans to encircle Druzhkivka and advance toward Dobropillia.
