“12 hours of continuous firefights.” The story of the guard with the nickname “Lihach”
In 2019, the serviceman entered the ranks of the National Guard of Ukraine at his personal request. During the military service, he realized that he liked the military business. In 2020, he signed a contract and in a few months was on his first rotation in the area of the Joint Forces Operation.
“For the winter rotation, I went as an elder to one of the military positions. In the evening of February 23, active fighting began on the contact line, and already in the morning we were informed that a full-scale invasion had begun,” Lichach recalls the beginning of the war.
“Our company group retreated to the city of Volnovakhy, it was there that later our first combat mission was. We went to the village of Starohnativka to support the tanks, but when the battle began, there were too many Russian troops and we were quickly surrounded. Under cover of night, we emerged from positions under artillery and tank attacks. All night with the tank company we passed the settlements captured by the enemy forces,” the soldier tells about the tank clash.
“After retreating and changing positions, we relocated to the city of Kurakhovo. A few days later, they received a new order for the defense of Volnovakha. Having taken up the defense, the battle began in the morning, which I and my brothers and our commander will never forget. Massive enemy offensive, enemy artillery and aviation, tank support. The defense of the city lasted 12 hours with continuous firefights. We held our position until the last, it was at that moment that I was most proud of my brethren for a worthy repulse of the enemy. Even after the wounds, the guards did not retreat, none of us felt any hesitation or fear. Within a few days we returned to Kurakhovo and received a new combat task, namely the clearing of the village of Stepne, where we held the defense for six more days, and constantly repelled the attacks of the enemy,” the guard says about the coordinated action during the defense.
“Dmytro always showed himself from the good side. He skillfully owns weapons, has first aid skills, will always help his comrades in a difficult situation or just give good advice,” the company commander says about the soldier.
For his heroism, for the clear fulfillment of his tasks in repelling armed aggression, the serviceman with the nickname “Lihach” was awarded the commander of the National Guard of Ukraine with the badge “For Valorous Service”.
National Guard of Ukraine
