"Cyba," a 21-year-old border guard, reflects on his transformation from a conscript into a stormtrooper and how their audacious assault group cleared an area much larger than planned.

"I was conscripted in 2020, thinking I'd serve for a short while and then go home, but things didn't turn out that way," says Cyba.

He served as a soldier on the border with Russia, where he witnessed a full-scale invasion by Russian forces. They defended the Kharkiv region for two months before being transferred to the EU borders in the Chop Border Detachment. However, many conscripts, including "Cyba," applied to serve in combat units. Among the volunteers were three of his uncles, all of whom are currently serving, and his father would have joined them if not for family circumstances.

Cyba recalls that their unit was vigorously prepared for their involvement in storming operations, sparing no time, fuel, or ammunition. The barrels of their rifles often glowed red from extensive use, he says. They trained extensively for the assault, often with one of the legendary stormtrooper brigades.

The stormtrooper group, which included "Cyba," operated so audaciously that they took several squares more than they were tasked with clearing. The group's leader, nicknamed "Morpih," led by personal example, fearlessly leading his subordinates and confronting the enemy.

"We were told to clear squares from K-15 to K-20. We got so caught up that we received a message over the radio: 'Guys, stop, you're already at K-22!' but 'Morpih' said, 'we can do more,'" Cyba shares. He also describes a frightened enemy sergeant, a Buryat by nationality, who immediately surrendered and exposed the positions of his comrades. Ukrainian soldiers offered an opportunity to surrender to three occupants, but they responded, "No, Khokhly [derogatory term for Ukrainians]..." and so on. After a brief conversation, the Ukrainian soldiers threw two grenades, and there was no one left to talk to.

During the assault, the enemy used mortar fire, drones, tanks, planes, but high motivation, luck, and training helped the stormtroopers accomplish their mission. However, the enemy attempted to counterattack during the night, but "Morpih" had laid a surprise explosive, which eliminated the enemy's reinforcement. After clearing their assigned sector, the stormtroopers handed the captured squares to other units, but they couldn't return peacefully. The enemy opened heavy fire with small arms and drones. Cyba described how they were subjected to chemical warfare agents, which resulted in breathing difficulties, burning sensations, and strange smells. One of the shells exploded near Cyba, causing him to lose consciousness. Afterward, he went through evacuation, an operation, ten days of treatment, and rehabilitation.

While the border guards recommended that Cyba be transferred to another unit, he refused and returned to his comrades in Donetsk. He plans to fight with his unit again after his recovery. "The guys are reliable; no one will abandon anyone; we'll stick together to the end. All the guys want to fight; no one thought that young guys would be so eager; they said conscripts just sit around and wipe their pants, but no, give us a chance, and everything will work out," says the young hero.