Today’s Guard of Light is Serhii Mazuryk, a 4th-grade reactor and turbine equipment repair mechanic at the Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Power Plant. Before the full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022, he lived a typical Ukrainian life, but everything changed abruptly that day.

“In fact, for me and other guys who understood a little more, it all started not on February 24,” recalls the nuclear worker. "My military backpack was ready a few weeks before that. As soon as putin staged his show about recognizing the ‘People's Republic of Donetsk’ and ‘People's Republic of Luhansk’ as russian territories, messages immediately started flooding our groups saying that this was the beginning of a major war.”

On that terrible day, while fearing for his loved ones, Serhii also felt a severe disappointment—one he still remembers. Even the enemy disappointed him: russian propaganda had portrayed it as the powerful “second army of the world.” Yet for almost four years, the 22nd army has held it back. In the early days of the full-scale invasion, Ukrainian civilians with bare hands stopped the so-called “second army.”

For the nuclear power professional, there was never a question about defending Ukraine. He had made that decision long ago.

“I understood that I could be of great use because I already had combat experience,” says the defender. "In 2015, I fought in the Anti-Terrorist Operation/Joint Forces Operation zone, so I already knew well who we were dealing with.

In 2022, as in 2015, I went to war to save as many Ukrainian lives as possible and do my utmost to ensure that more defenders could return home alive and unharmed. My service began in the 115th Mechanized Brigade."

While carrying out a combat mission near Donetsk Airport, Serhii Mazuryk suffered shrapnel wounds to his head. One day, his unit's infantry fighting vehicle was ambushed — the ruscists shot at the vehicle with hand-held grenade launchers. Despite this, the vehicle remained operational, and the Ukrainian defenders managed to escape from the enemy's clutches. At that time, the company suffered significant losses, so the fighters were taken out for recovery. Serhii himself was appointed acting platoon sergeant major.

After rehabilitation, the Guard's unit was transferred to the Sumy direction, and he was entrusted with the duties of platoon commander. Next were Toretsk, Klishchiivka, and the Kupiansk direction. It was there, in the forest near Synkivka, that Serhii Mazuryk was wounded for the second time. After a short period of treatment, he returned to fight in that direction.

“After we recovered in a short time, my company took part in the Belgorod operation,” recalls the nuclear power professional. "I was training to be an FPV drone pilot at the time. Next was Ocheretiane. I am now the commander of a platoon of unmanned aerial vehicles within a company of unmanned aerial strike complexes. We carry out combat missions in the remains of the Serebryanskyi Forest."

Serhii Mazuryk is convinced that in war, the main thing is to keep a cool head and stay calm:

"The calmer you behave, the calmer the people around you are. Even if everything is very bad and you feel fear, just like your brothers-in-arms, you should not show it. Personally, the support of my wonderful wife always helps me stay calm. She often restrains me from making rash decisions and emotional outbursts (smiling – Ed.). Only for her, I would not have been lying dead somewhere in a forest long ago.

My wife is my guardian angel! I always keep her photo under my phone cover. I also still have a temporary pass there, which was issued in Netishyn back in 2022."

Our Guard admits that, like most Ukrainians, he is tired of living in war and sometimes even loses faith in a better tomorrow. It is becoming increasingly difficult for him to find the words to motivate his brothers and sisters-in-arms to fight as selflessly as they did at the beginning of the full-scale invasion. Nevertheless, he knows one truth for sure and never tires of repeating it: “Even one life saved is a huge heroic deed.”

Meanwhile, Serhii urges Ukrainians not to put their lives on hold: "Don't wait for things to get better or change somehow, don't put your life on hold — just live now! Because the price we pay for our freedom is exorbitantly high. So live, rejoice, love, and help the front!

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the staff of Energoatom and the Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Power Plant for their assistance to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This support for the army is very much appreciated!

Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the heroes!”