Oleksandr is 35 years old. He is the commander of a sniper platoon.

“I do not kill people. I destroy the enemy's manpower. I only regret that it is too little,” he says.

Oleksandr lived a vibrant, energetic civilian life: he practiced sniping and kickboxing since childhood, became a master of sports in shooting, and loved to hunt. He participated in competitions multiple times.

He held the position of prosecutor in the territorial unit of the Khmelnytskyi Regional Prosecutor's Office. He definitely plans to return to it “after, if he survives”:

“It is much more pleasant to wear a shirt than to run with a rifle like a caveman. But for some reason, there are no volunteers to replace me here…

Outside the prosecutor's office – “here, in the sector” – Oleksandr has been since the first days of the full-scale war. He arrived at the trenches near Volodymyrivka in Donetsk Oblast on the sixth day after receiving a referral from the 53rd Separate Mechanized Brigade named after Prince Volodymyr Monomakh. As an officer, he became the commander of a reconnaissance platoon. He currently commands a sniper platoon.

“I wanted to join a brigade that was already fighting in the sector. Without unnecessary bureaucracy and coordination. That’s the one I got into: the 53rd is one of the few brigades that is undergoing restoration without leaving the front line. From Vuhledar, the “rotation” was immediately to Bakhmut. Then a month of rest and back to Bakhmut. Then a year and two months in Avdiivka, then – Sumy, New York, right after that – the Serebryansky Forest… Over all the years of the war, there might be three months when the 53rd was not fighting.”

All battles are tough. Despite this, the defender, recalling the clashes with a private military company in Bakhmut, jokes:

“After our battles, they said among themselves: "You will spend the African prize, and the Ukrainian one – your family." Well, you understand….”

 Throughout all the years of the war, Oleksandr is supported by his family.

“If anything remains sacred in my soul, it is them – my wife and daughter. For me, family is sacred. Like an icon.”

 The prosecutor identifies the enemy with “the insects.”

 “This nation has no innocents. I took phones from the captives, communicated with their grandmothers, daughters… These people are uneducated, dark as anthracite coal. Their brainwashed minds are completely controlled by propaganda, and that is a very powerful tool. They are guilty for every drop of blood or tear I have seen.”

Currently, Oleksandr is defending the country in the Lyman direction. He is convinced: Ukraine will not see victory without it:

“The commander of the reconnaissance platoon and the commander of the snipers – the Russians know well who I am. They have posted videos several times, claiming to have killed me. Even if I survive, and they win – they will tear me to pieces. One hundred percent.”

For Oleksandr, victory means a closed sky and the complete exhaustion of the Russian offensive potential: “so that the enemy cannot move for the next ten years.”

“In Vuhledar, I swore on blood that I would be with my people in the platoon until the end. After the victory, I will ask the commander if my services are needed. If not – I will return to the prosecutor's office. If so – I will stay until he gives permission to leave.”

The badge “Silver Cross,” medals – “For Wounds,” “For the Defense of Avdiivka,” “For the Defense of the Toretsk Community”… The list of Oleksandr's awards contrasts with his attitude towards media attention.

“The 53rd is not a media brigade. It’s all just noise. What matters is what we do – we destroy the enemy, and he loses his offensive potential every day. If my contribution provides half a percent of safety for my girls – I agree to everything that is happening here now.”

 The Office of the Prosecutor General thanks those who defend Ukraine every day.