Mykola Viuk: ‘Devotion to Ukraine and love for those waiting at home from the war are stronger than death’. (Part 1)

And it turns out that his strength of spirit, devotion to Ukraine and boundless love for those who are waiting for him at home from the war are stronger than death...

Mykola ‘Viun’, a unit commander of the 25th separate airborne brigade of Sicheslav, together with five comrades captured 10 occupants and recaptured a forest belt that had been occupied by the enemy. The three of them fought off three furious enemy attacks.

In that battle, ‘Viun’ was wounded three times... 

In both legs. And his right arm.

He walked to the evacuation point on his wounded legs and held on with his last strength until he fell... Then his comrades carried him, and the damned enemy drone tracked them and dropped mines on them.

The journey to the evacuation point took endless five hours. This time was fatal...

Both legs could not be saved.

High amputation. A very difficult case for prosthetics. Extremely difficult. All clinics in Ukraine refused him.

There was no such clinic in Europe or Israel.

He was rejected by 96 clinics in the United States, to which he applied.

But he did not give up. He wanted to walk. To take his first son to school on his legs, albeit artificial ones.

And fate finally gave him a chance.

Gromada's conversation with the war hero, nicknamed ‘Viun’, who defended Ukraine in the hot Kupiansk sector, tells about his high military valour, incredible human resilience, and what gave him the strength not to break down and, despite the hardships, pain and losses, to fight for a full life and move towards his dream.

Read more in the Ukrainian version...