Serhii, a resident of Sumy region, like most Ukrainians, woke up on February 24th from an early morning phone call, learning about the full-scale invasion of russia into Ukraine.

A former military serviceman who completed his conscription in "Desna" and later served for three years on contract in the Sumy Border Guard Detachment, he immediately gathered necessary belongings and headed to the territorial recruitment center. From there, he was called to join the ranks of the State Border Guard Service.

Serhii recalls that on that "black" morning for the entire country, he kissed his two little daughters, who were still asleep, embraced his wife, and assured her that he would definitely return to realize the civilian plans they had dreamed of on February 23rd. However, he could not act differently because he firmly believes that every man must defend his family and country from the enemy.

The border unit in which Serhii currently serves actively participated in liberating the territory of the Kharkiv region, engaged in combat operations in Luhansk, and is currently fulfilling tasks in the defense of the state border in Sumy. In July 2023, during active storming in the Luhansk region, Serhii, leading a reserve unit as a senior sergeant, arrived to support other fighters who were holding off the enemy's advance.

"There was fierce fighting. Thanks to our cohesion, including training, preparation, and the skills of the fighters, we not only skillfully repelled enemy attacks but also 'burned' the aggressors and prevented the encirclement of border guards. Together with other military components of the Defense Forces, we organized cover for the evacuation of the wounded and withdrew to reserve positions to replenish resources," the border guard narrated. "Later, we participated in combat clashes with the enemy, acting both as reserves and on permanent main positions, destroying the occupier."

Serhii emphasized that after returning from the hot spot of hostilities, each serviceman underwent an interview, and the results showed high morale and psychological readiness. All of them, without exception, are ready to continue fulfilling their assigned tasks, defending and protecting the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country.

"We have a clearly defined task – to destroy the enemy and protect our native land. So, our attitudes are combative. We all know that victory will surely be ours because Ukraine is our land, and we must defend and liberate it. It is rightly said: he who comes with a sword will perish by the sword. And we will rebuild our state and raise our children in a free country. We believe in this and strive for it!" - the serviceman of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine stated confidently.