Our next Guardian of Light, codename Staryi (Old man), has been serving in the army since 2021, but he gained professional combat experience from the beginning of the full-scale war. Before joining the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the man worked as an electrician at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. He is currently performing combat missions in the 36th Separate Marine Brigade. 

On February 24, 2022, Staryi defended the airfield of Berdiansk, and for more than two years of russia's large-scale invasion, he fought in almost all directions.
“I started the war with the end of guard duty, and on February 28, we went towards Vasylivka, Zaporizhzhia region, to stop a convoy that was moving in our direction. The convoy consisted of a tank and three infantry vehicles,” says Staryi. 

An infantryman always goes into battle first. His task is to storm and defend the planting. His life can end at any moment. The man recalls when he was on his last legs during a combat mission.

“During the first shelling, I only managed to turn my back. The first hit was 5-7 meters away from me. The fragments slashed my arm and leg. When I was running to the planting, I tripped a mine – I was lying there looking up at the sky, realizing that a drone could come and drop explosives at any moment. An hour and a half passed like that, I thought this was the end of my life, I was going to stay here,” Staryi shares his experiences. 

Staryi was awarded the War Veteran badge and the Order for Courage, 3rd class, for his professionalism, dedication to military service, and heroic performance of combat missions.  During the fierce fighting at the front, the soldier was injured twice – he suffered a femoral fracture in Vodiane, Donetsk region, and limb amputation. Moreover, he was poisoned by the occupants in Avdiivka. 

“This is a russian tactic. Two drones fly up, one drops poisonous gases, and when the soldiers run out of the dugout because of the poisonous gas, the second drone drops explosives,” the soldier said. 

Despite his severe injuries, Staryi remained to see service. Energoatom joined his rehabilitation. 
“When I was last wounded, Energoatom provided financial assistance and then financed the repair of my car. A missile hit a meter in front of the car when we were at our positions in the Kharkiv direction. Thank God, everyone is alive, but the car was left without headlights, bumper or radiator,” the warrior says. 

Our Guardian's hometown is Energodar. The defender wishes patience and hope to the town residents who are still under occupation and waiting for liberation from the ruscists. Staryi dreams of liberating his native land from the invaders and believes this will happen shortly. 
Energodar will definitely return under the control of Ukraine. We will win back all our lands! We need to hold on and believe in a better future.