We will never know whether Ukraine would have survived if, in the first weeks of the full-scale invasion, most Ukrainians had not rushed to meet each other with an outstretched hand and hugs, but had scattered in all directions. We do not know whether the Ukrainian state would have existed on February 24, 2022, if brave defenders from all over the country had not rushed to restrain the enemy invasion in Donbas in 2014, but had simply waved their hand at someone else’s misfortune. However, one thing we know for sure: Ukrainians will always defend their land – in 2014, in 2022, and in a millennium.
Unfortunately, the bloody war has been going on in independent Ukraine for over 10 years. Our today’s Guardian of Light, Serhii Muravynets, knows about it not from the Internet or movies. He fought for his native country back in 2004 during the Orange Revolution and defended its European future during the Revolution of Dignity in 2014. After the annexation of Crimea and the start of hostilities in Donbas, he without hesitation became a volunteer in the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO)/ Joint Forces Operation (JFO) zone. He did the same in 2022, when the enemy started a full-scale invasion.
Serhii Muravynets was born and raised in the town of Varash. He graduated from Heat Power Faculty of Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute, as well as the Military Department in “communications”. In 2004, he got a job at Metal Testing Department of the Rivne NPP.
“I was a nuclear employee, an athlete and a patriot of Ukraine,” says the Guardian, “Therefore neither the Orange Revolution nor the Revolution of Dignity passed me by. In 2014, after russia had annexed Crimea and attacked Donbas, I decided to volunteer in the ATO/JFO zone, but I did not succeed. At that time, nuclear employees would not have remained at work at that situation, so I had to choose. I decided to continue working and volunteering. Therefore, I helped my friends who were serving at that time in every possible way.”
On February 24, 2022, our Guardian of Light was on the night shift. From four to five in the morning, he was receiving many messages from friends who lived in Kyiv. People wrote that russia had attacked Ukraine. The news was also full of such messages.
“At that moment, I felt despair,” the nuclear employee shares, “When I saw columns of equipment advancing across the territory of Ukraine, enemy helicopters flying over our cities and villages, enemy capturing new territories, I went from bad to worse psychologically. At some point, it seemed that Ukraine would not stand, because it would not be able to cope with that invasion of orcs. That is why I decided to voluntarily go to the front. It is great happiness that I was wrong and that our country is still standing with dignity! I am sure that we will definitely defeat the enemy!”
When Serhii Muravynets came to the military registration and enlistment office, he saw kilometer-long queues of Ukrainian volunteers. That day, he was 400+ on the list. Having left his data, the nuclear employee went home to wait for a call.
“After all, no one called me,” the defender recalls, “Only at the end of 2022 I learnt from my colleague that arrangement of new brigades had begun to form for a counteroffensive, and they were looking for communications officers there. I decided to go to the Territorial Recruitment Center to explore that. There I learned that there were not enough soldiers in many units, so it was possible to choose any. Having contacted the communications chief of one of the newly formed brigades, I decided to go there and help with the formation. After that, I wrote an application for exemption from active service at the RNPP (that time the job was already reserved for me), as well as an application for mobilization. The next day I was already at the training ground. It was the start of my service in the 33rd Motorized Rifle Brigade.”
From military experience, the newly minted defender of Ukraine had only a military department, which he graduated from almost 20 years ago, as well as courses for volunteers. Such training was conducted at the Rivne NPP immediately after the full-scale invasion. Those who wanted were taught to provide first aid, use various weapons, dig trenches and dugouts, and were also taught tactical combat. Nevertheless, after the nuclear employee became a volunteer, he was additionally sent to the training ground to gain new knowledge.
“I was appointed commander of a communications platoon,” says the Guardian. “On the first day of my service, there were only four communications officers in the brigade, and by the end of January 2023, there were already about 250. All the communications specialists were sent for training, and if there was no such opportunity, the instructors and officers with combat experience came to us. After a few months of training, I was ready to carry out any tasks.
Even before the start of the counteroffensive, several signalmen and I were sent to the Zaporizhzhia direction to conduct reconnaissance. At that time, we did not yet know where we were going and were a little worried, but after a few weeks it became just 24/7 work for me. We almost did not rest. Only a couple of months later, our brigade was sent for a month’s rest. Then we were back in the same direction.”
In 2024, Serhii Muravynets’ unit was transferred to the Donetsk direction. There, the defenders held the defense of the village of Peremoha near Maryinka almost until the end of the year. In 2025, the hero’s unit entered on duty in one of the most difficult directions – Pokrovskyi; and the brigade does not allow the enemy to advance deep into Ukraine there now.
The nuclear employee admits that at first, it is difficult to get used to new realities on the front line, and then everyday routine slowly settles down and life continues. It simply acquires new meanings. Brothers-in-arms become a second family and the closest environment, so the main task is to support and preserve each other.
“When one of the brothers-in-arms is completely exhausted, we replace him, help him,” explains the defender, “There was a period when we saved ourselves from chronic fatigue with energy drinks and sweets. Then each of us gained 20 kg, and I even more (smiling – ed.). I have already lost a lot; it remains to finish off the rest.”
Unfortunately, the nuclear employee was facilitated to get rid of excess weight not only by refusing sweets, but also by the difficult path of rehabilitation after a serious injury. While performing one of the combat missions, our Guardian of Light received a serious injury to both legs.
However, that event did not break the brave Ukrainian – he confidently walks forward. There are still many stages ahead on his way to full recovery, but our nuclear employee has already passed all the necessary exams and returned to work at the Rivne NPP. More than this, he took part in the Kyiv Unbroken Marathon 2025.
“Unfortunately, due to leg injuries, I will no longer be able to run marathons,” complains Serhii Muravynets, “Therefore, I simply walked 5 km at the “Unbroken Race” as a war veteran. However, I felt pain in my legs for two days after that, so I will not sign up for such a race again. Maybe in the future, when the more time passes.
I have loved running since my student days. Back then, there were small 5 km runs. I became seriously interested in marathons about ten years ago. Once, my friend invited me to Kyiv for a super sprint triathlon. I had to swim 300 m, cycle 20 km and run 2.5 km. At that time, I was swimming and cycling quite well, so such competitions seemed interesting and easy.
After the first two stages, I was in the lead, but the last kilometers of the run turned out to be complete hell for me. I missed most of the athletes and barely reached the finish line. Then I decided to improve myself and started running even more. Many years have passed since then, I overcame my first marathon, and later I was even able to complete the longest distance in triathlon – Ironman (3.8 km swimming, 180.2 km cycling and 42.2 km running – ed.).
By the way, that experience helped me a lot in the ranks of the Armed Forces. My body was already adapted to constant loads and I could perform tasks despite pain and fatigue. And also not to despair when something did not work out under shelling, or when it was necessary to make quick decisions.”
Nevertheless, Serhii Muravynets has a decision, the correctness of which he sometimes doubts. It concerns the protection of Ukrainians. Of course, he says this for a joke, but with a tangible pain in his heart. Our Guardian is very upset when people criticize the employees of the Territorial Recruitment Center and treat them with great aggression, as if they were enemies.
According to him, there are people there who do not do everything right, but most of them are military personnel who returned from the front line, went through a difficult path and risked their own lives for the sake of those who remained in the rear:
“When I remember how everyone sincerely welcomed the military at the beginning of the war, and now they criticize the Territorial Recruitment Center and other people in military uniform, I begin to be disappointed in our people and doubt the correctness of my decision to protect them. Of course, I am exaggerating, but this issue is really painful. The actions of the military are not dictated by their own desires – they are carrying out orders. I am convinced that every military person dreams of ending the war and stopping mobilization.
Therefore, I would like to turn to Ukrainians: before criticizing the Territorial Recruitment Center, try to find out who is standing in front of you and how these people got here. From my group, there are only a few defenders left – and each of us has had a difficult fate. Most of us ended up in the Territorial Recruitment Center, and now 90% of these people are military transferred from the front line.”
Our Guardian of Light calls on Ukrainians – despite everything, to support each other, because we definitely have someone to hate.
Glory to Ukraine! Glory to the heroes!
