Volodymyr Vakulich is a lead engineer for the buildings and structures’ operation. In July 2017, nine years ago, he became a member of UKRNAFTA. Volodymyr acted without hesitation on the first day of the full-scale assault. He quickly volunteered to protect his homeland as a reserve officer. He states, "I already knew on 24 February that I had to be where I was needed." Volodymyr enlisted in the military as a "captain" and completed his service as a "lieutenant colonel." However, he claims that the people in his immediate vicinity and the activities at hand were always more significant to him than rank or position.
During his service, Volodymyr was in several key areas. He joined the 21st Separate Mechanised Brigade during its formation as a company commander in the 1st Mechanised Battalion and took part in battles in the Lyman sector.
He was later appointed head of the brigade’s training section, where he was responsible for organising the training of newly arrived service members. It was this approach to training that Volodymyr introduced as an innovation in the 21st Brigade.
"On my proposal, the brigade assembled a platoon of instructors made up of the most skilled troops who had prior combat experience. Following basic military training, the soldiers received further instruction at the brigade's training fields in combat zones. These instructor units were thereafter implemented in every brigade, according to our colleague. Organising training overseas for staff to operate foreign equipment was a different facet of the job.
Volodymyr became the brigade's chief of ordnance in 2024. He was in charge of making repairs, evacuating damaged cars, and putting equipment back in working order. The brigade employed Swedish CV90 infantry fighting vehicles, Leopard tanks, and contemporary foreign weapons. He said that the apparatus was extremely potent and cutting edge. It was unexpected to the adversary when they first saw it. However, such technology needs careful upkeep and specific attention. Repairs frequently had to be done close to the battle lines. "The repair shops were located in the woods." We moved the repair sites frequently and concealed the equipment. Occasionally, we would put three broken vehicles together to make one totally functional combat unit. When representatives from the partner countries that provided us with this equipment saw where and how we were doing this, they were simply speechless,” he recalls.
In December 2024, Volodymyr completed his military service and returned to civilian life. However, he hasn’t been able to fully adjust yet. “I’ll probably only be able to fully recover once the war is over. My comrades are still fighting, so in my thoughts I’m still there with them,” he shares.
Today, Volodymyr receives the most support from his family and colleagues. He says that his Company’s team welcomed him back very warmly. “We never lost touch with my colleagues throughout my service. I returned to my team, which had supported me all this time. That was very important.”
He is progressively returning to his regular life with the help of his loved ones, family, and close friends. One of Volodymyr's happiest moments in recent years was the birth of his grandson in 2024. Volodymyr is gradually recovering from his military service. He claims that since it enables him to resume his regular routine, work has become a crucial component of this process. He gets just as much inspiration and strength from working in his backyard in his spare time. "Work keeps me focused and helps me stay focused." Additionally, Volodymyr says, "I work on my own house because it gives me the strength to move forward, keeps me from dwelling on what I've been through, and diverts me from difficult thoughts."
